Page 10 - Think Grain Think Feed - May25

www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE
Recent Advances in Calcium and
Phosphorus Nutrition for Broilers
(An Indian Perspective)
Dr. Vinod Koskewar, Premium Chick Feed and Dr. Sushant Labh, Kemin Industries South Asia
Dr. Vinod Koskewar
Dr. Vinod Koskewar is Head Nutritionist at
Premium Chick Feed Pvt Ltd. He is a hardcore
poultry commercial nutritionist who has spent
2 decades in feed formulations and quality
control across multiple geographies. His
expertise is poultry nutrition & feed
formulation optimizing bird health and
producers profitability which is backed by
science and driven by results.
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Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 7 | May 2025 The Importance of Balance: role in the absorption of phosphorus, which equates www.benisonmedia.com
Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 7 | May 2025
both calcium and
to about 6 kg of Di-Calcium
Total Calcium (Ca) to
Phosphate (DCP) per ton of
Available Phosphorus(P)
phosphorus. A deficiency in
vitamin D reduces calcium
feed.
Ratio
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The interplay between
leading to bone disorders
calcium and phosphorus is
metabolites 25-(OH)-D and
like rickets and poor growth
so strong that an excess or and phosphorus uptake, Vitamin D and its 3
1,25-(OH) -D —have
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3
deficiency of one mineral performance. There is an numerous functions in the
directly affects the utilization inverse relationship between avian system,
Introduction production), cellular function, and
of the other. The vitamin D levels and mineral though most
3
Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are DNA/RNA synthesis (E. Humer et al.,
recommended dietary ratio requirements—higher attention is
essential macro-minerals in broiler 2015).
of Ca to P for broilers dietary vitamin D allows for focused on calcium
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nutrition, playing a crucial role in Enzymatic and Hormonal
typically ranges from 1.5:1 to slightly reduced levels of and phosphorus
skeletal development, metabolic Interactions
2:1 (Rafael F. Sens et al., calcium and phosphorus. metabolism, bone
functions, and overall growth Vitamin D regulates the absorption of
3 2021). An imbalance can Dietary supplementation health, and
performance. These minerals must be calcium and phosphorus, An
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supplied in the right balance to imbalance of these minerals can cause the following issues: with 25-(OH) -D positively eggshell structures
· Excess Calcium: Reduces impacts performance, tibia of broilers and
maximize feed efficiency, promote hinder enzymatic processes essential
phosphorus absorption, ash, and serum layers. Plant
strong bone formation, and prevent for digestion and growth (Markus
lowers feed efficiency, concentration of calcium and sources of vitamin
metabolic disorders. In India, where Rodehutscord et al., 2022).
poultry farming is a rapidly growing Sources of Calcium and Phosphorus and impairs the phosphorus. This D are insufficient to Dr. Sushant Labh
supplementation can also
meet the full needs
sector, optimizing Ca and P nutrition is Common feed ingredients providing digestibility of other spare some available of birds. Dr. Sushant Labh works as National Techno-
vital to improving bird health and farm nutrients like fats and Commercial Manager at Kemin Industries
profitability. The availability of mineral these minerals include: proteins (Markus phosphorus in the diet, even Technically, dietary South Asia. He is an experienced animal feed
· Calcium: Limestone, dicalcium Rodehutscord et al., phytase enzymes are supplementation technologist with around 15 years of
sources, variability in ingredient
phosphate (DCP), monocalcium included (accounting for with 1,25-(OH) -D experience in the field of nutritional
digestibility, and reliance on plant- 2022). 2 3 formulation across species, feed mill
phosphate (MCP), meat and bone calcium, available is more effective
based feeds necessitate precise · Excess Phosphorus: Leads management, quality control, feed enzyme
meal (MBM), and fish meal. phosphorus, and sodium than 25-(OH)-D in matrix application and formulating problem
supplementation strategies—including to poor bone 3
· Phosphorus: DCP, MCP, MBM, and matrix). In many cases, the alleviating negative specific product solutions. He has expertise in
the use of phytase enzymes to mineralization and application of research based updated modern
plant-based sources (e.g., phytate phosphorus-sparing effect of effects associated
enhance phosphorus bioavailability. hinders calcium retention nutritional concepts for South Asian feed
phosphorus). (Laura Shiromi David et 25-(OH) -D occurs without with calcium and formulations.
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2
This article explores the latest
Calcium and Phosphorus al., 2023). any noticeable changes in phosphorus
advances in Ca and P nutrition for
Recommendations for Broilers tibia morphology. At 250 imbalances and dietary
broilers, highlighting their impact on Calcium, Phosphorus, and
mg/kg 1,25(OH) -D can vitamin D deficiency. In
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growth, feed formulation, and Broilers require different levels of Vitamin D Synergy spare almost 0.1% available broilers 1,25-(OH) -D can
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sustainability in the Indian poultry calcium and phosphorus at various life Vitamin D plays a crucial 2 3
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industry. stages. Breeding companies such as
Cobb and Ross regularly publish
Role of Calcium and Phosphorus in Table 1:Comparison of Cobb Total Calcium and Available Phosphorus
standard nutrient specifications and Requirements for year 2018 and 2022
Broilers
update them based on ongoing Cobb Total Calcium requirement (%)
Bone Development and Strength
research and field performance. In
Approximately 99% of calcium and BREED NUTRITION SPECS YEAR D 0-8 D 9-18 D 19-28 D >29
recent years, the recommended levels
80% of phosphorus in a broiler's body COBB 2022 0.96 0.80 0.74 0.72
of both minerals—except during the
are stored in the skeleton. These COBB 2018 0.90 0.84 0.76 0.76
early stages—have been slightly
minerals are indispensable for
reduced. DIFFERENCE 0.06 -0.04 -0.02 -0.04
formation of strong, healthy bones
The table 1 & 2 illustrate the current DIFFERENCE % 6.7 -4.8 -2.6 -5.3
capable of supporting rapid growth
calcium and phosphorus
and high meat yield. Cobb Available Phosphorus requirement (%)
recommendations according to Cobb
Metabolic Functions BREED NUTRITION SPECS YEAR D 0-8 D 9-18 D 19-28 D >29
and Ross guidelines. In practice,
Calcium plays a vital role in nerve COBB 2022 0.54 0.40 0.37 0.36
poultry nutritionists in India typically
transmission, muscle contraction, and COBB 2018 0.45 0.42 0.38 0.38
follow these standards or make slight
blood clotting. Phosphorus is crucial
adjustments based on local experience DIFFERENCE 0.09 -0.02 -0.01 -0.02
for energy metabolism (ATP
and farm-specific conditions. DIFFERENCE % 20.0 -4.8 -2.6 -5.3
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