Evaluation of Bacterial Contaminations and Mineral Contents of Eggshell Powder Recycled from Hatchery Wastes as an Alternative Animal Feed Source in Bishoftu, Ethiopia
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Date
2025
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
The rising demand for sustainable and cost-effective animal feed ingredients has sparked interest in using hatchery byproducts, specifically eggshells, as a potential mineral source. The research experiment was conducted from November 2024 to May 2025 in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia, to evaluate the levels of bacterial contaminations and mineral content of hatchery waste recycled eggshell for its potential as an alternative animal feed source. A total 36 eggshell samples of different hatch status and breed origins were collected from four hatchery plants. Microbial analyses were conducted to assess total aerobic bacterial count, coliform count, and Escherichia coli count, as well as the presence rate of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. before and after preliminary processing of the eggshell. High contamination level was found with total aerobic bacterial count, total coliform count, and Escherichia coli counts averaging 6.80 ± 1.21, 6.23 ± 0.63, and 3.20 ± 2.54 log₁₀ CFU/g, respectively before the processing. Eggshell from unhatched eggs had significantly greater Escherichia coli count (4.24 ± 2.33 log₁₀ CFU/g) than eggshell of hatched eggs (2.11 ± 2.34 log₁₀ CFU/g). The study identified that Escherichia coli and Salmonella ontaminated eggshell powder with 69% and 13.8% frequency, respectively After processing, total aerobic bacterial count and total coliform count levels dropped to 5.32 and 4.53 log₁₀ CFU/g respectively. The frequency of Escherichia coli in eggshell samples dropped to 36.1%, whereas Salmonella was eliminated. The study found that hatchery waste derived eggshell powder is the best natural source of major and minor minerals, particularly when derived from unhatched eggs. The major minerals like magnesium (2429.8mg/kg ± 266.6), calcium (2078.1 mg/kg ± 0.8), phosphorus (1036.9 mg/kg ± 125.0), and sulfur (1389.2mg/kg ± 139.7) were very prominent than other minerals and trace elements. The study confirms that eggshell powder from hatchery waste
can be used as a safe and effective mineral supplement in animal feed, but recommends additional thermal treatment or chemical sanitization steps and improved extraction for safe and effective recycling
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Keywords
Bacterial contamination, E.col, Eggshell, Hatchery waste, Mineral, Salmonella