Utilization of Egg Shells and Phosphoric Acid as a Source of Phosphorus and Calcium in the Diet of White Leghorn Cockerels

Abstract

Mathematical calculations, chemical analyses, and physical characteristic determinations of phosphoric acid-egg shell combinations were made to ascertain the feasibility of utilizing such combinations as phosphorus and calcium sources in the diet of the baby chick. Two combinations of phosphoric acid and raw egg shell were fed as sources of both phosphorus and calcium to three replicates of White Leghorn cockerels from hatch to 21 days of age in two experiments. A degerminated corn meal diet which contained 0.30% phosphorus and 0.21% calcium was used as a basal. Graded levels of both acid-shell mixes and monosodium phosphate were added to yield supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15% from each source respectively. Two calcium levels were fed at each phosphorus level. Desired calcium levels, above that supplied by the shell products, were obtained by adding ground limestone. Final body weights were obtained by replicate after 21 days on trial and four chicks in each replicate were sacrificed at this time for bone ash determinations.There appeared to be no major physical or biological problems associated with mixing or feeding the acid-shell mixes. Within treatment levels, chicks fed the acid-shell mixes as a source of phosphorus and calcium had body weight and bone ash values comparable to those fed monosodium phosphate. Phosphorus and calcium in both acid-shell mixes were available to the chick for growth as well as bone mineralization.