Dietary Calcium and Non-phytin Phosphorus Interaction on Growth, Bone Mineralization and Mineral Retention in Broiler Starter Chicks

S V Rama Rao,M R Reddy,R P Sharma,P Pavani,M V L N Raju,G Shyam Sunder

doi:10.5713/ajas.2003.719

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the requirement of calcium (Ca) and non-phytin phosphorus (NPP) in commercial broilers during starter phase. Seven hundred and twenty day-old Vencob male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 144 stainless steel battery brooders, 5 birds in each. Four levels each of Ca (6, 7, 8, and 9 g/kg) and NPP (3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 g/kg diet) were fed in a factorial design in a corn-soya basal diet. Levels of dicalcium phosphate and oyster shell grit were adjusted to obtain the desired levels of Ca and NPP. Each diet was fed ad libidum to chicks in 9 battery brooders from one d to 21 d of age. Body weight gain and feed intake were depressed (p 6 g/kg) and NPP (>3 g/kg) levels. The leg abnormality score decreased (p 2:1, Ca and NPP). Similarly, the retention of Zn, Mn, and Fe in liver was significantly higher (p<0.01) at lower levels of Ca and NPP tested. Results from this study indicate that the commercial broilers do not require more than 3 g NPP and 6g Ca/kg diet during starter phase (up to 21 d of age) for optimum weight gain, feed efficiency and utilization of Ca, P, Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu. However, the requirements of these minerals for optimum bone mineralization were higher than the levels suggested above.

Highlights

The requirement of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)has been the subject of research for the last 3-4 decades.These two minerals are co-existing in many biological functions
Results from this study indicate that the commercial broilers do not require more than 3 g non-phytin phosphorus (NPP) and 6g Ca/kg diet during starter phase for optimum weight gain, feed efficiency and utilization of Ca, P, Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu
The body weight gain and feed intake were optimum at the lowest levels of Ca and NPP tested (6 and 3 g/kg diet, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

Has been the subject of research for the last 3-4 decades. These two minerals are co-existing in many biological functions. Several researchers determined the requirement Ca (Kiaei and Michie, 1994; Hossain et al., 1994) or P (Mohamad et al, 1998; Rama Rao et al, 1999). Keeping the other mineral at a constant level. It is well established that the level of Ca or P influence the utilization of these macro minerals and other trace mineral like manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) etc. Growing concern over the environmental pollution from large scale poultry farming is primarily associated with excretion of un-utilized mineral compounds like phytin phosphorus (PP) (Paik, 2000).

Methods

Results

Conclusion