Abstract
In order to determine the availability of calcium in limestone processed by a new method, nine hundred day-old male poults were fed diets with varying calcium sources, levels and finenesses (mesh) for twenty-one days. Growth rate and feed efficiency were the criteria used to evaluate the availability of calcium among treatments.Reductions in the percent calcium in the diet produced significant decreases in gain with the coarser grinds of limestone. The birds showing greatest gain were on the 103 mesh (the particles were no larger than 1/1000th of an inch in diameter) at 1.30% calcium level. At the 0.80% and 0.60% calcium levels the poults on the Colorado Lien diets exhibited reduced growth compared to the poults receiving smaller particles; indicating that a reduction in particle size increased calcium availability at these lower dietary calcium levels.It was a general trend with the turkeys on the “mesh” diets that as the dietary calcium level dropped, the feed efficiency also dropped; however, this trend was not followed by the Colorado Lien poults and the CaCO3 birds. The most efficient poults in this experiment were the ones on the 102 mesh diet and the 102 mesh diet at the 1.30% calcium level. The least efficient were on the 102 mesh diet at 0.60% calcium level.In summary it can be stated that the finer grinds of limestone: 1) increased the availability of calcium to the poult, 2) increased the efficiency of the bird at low dietary calcium levels, and 3) produced better weight gains at low diet calcium levels. The coarser grinds increased weight gains and efficiencies at the highest calcium level. It was concluded that fine particle size in a limestone product increased dietary calcium availability to poults and probably reduced the amount of limestone needed in a poult’s diet.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call