Page 12 - Think Grain Think Feed - May25

www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE Ross Total Calcium requirement (%) Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 7 | May 2025 diets often arises from absorption of essential by its solubility, which www.benisonmedia.com

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 7 | May 2025

Table 2: Comparison of Ross Total Calcium and Available Phosphorus
content, weight gain, and
Requirements for 2019 and 2022
minerals like phosphorus,
feed efficiency (J. I. M.
multiple sources:
varies with particle size
magnesium, manganese,
and purity.
Fernandes et al., 2019).
Ingredient adulteration
·
BREED
intensifies phytate
nutritionists to adjust
ingredients such as corn
ingredients contaminated
0.65
0.75
0.95
0.60
ROSS
2022
premix formulations. For
elimination from the
with limestone powder
and soybean meal, a
0.96
0.75
0.78
0.87
2019
ROSS NUTRITION SPECS YEAR D 0-10 D 11-24 D 25-39 D >40 Increasing phytase levels (e.g., soy and other and zinc, forcing · In plant-based
gastrointestinal tract. (LSP)) example, a 0.1% increase large proportion of
DIFFERENCE -0.01 -0.12 -0.13 -0.15
Proper phytase matrix · Water in Indian farms, in dietary calcium can phosphorus exists as
DIFFERENCE % -1.0 -13.8 -16.7 -20.0
application requires which generally contains reduce phosphorus phytate, which is
Ross Av P requirement (%) analyzing the phytate high Total Dissolved digestibility by 4% (J. I. M. indigestible unless
content of the actual feed Fernandes et al., 2019). phytase are added.
BREED NUTRITION SPECS YEAR D 0-10 D 11-24 D 25-39 D >40 Solids (TDS) and calcium
raw materials used. It is levels between 100–200 Managing calcium levels Moreover, the phytate
ROSS 2022 0.50 0.42 0.36 0.34
recommended not to apply mg/L carefully is critical to content itself varies,
ROSS 2019 0.48 0.44 0.39 0.37
the phosphorus matrix · Use of additives with LSP optimize nutrient utilization complicating accurate
DIFFERENCE 0.02 -0.015 -0.03 -0.03
beyond 90% of phytate as a carrier and maintain broiler health diet formulation.
DIFFERENCE % 4.2 -3.4 -7.7 -8.1 levels in diets. and performance. Moving towards digestible
· Ingredient adulteration
Disclaimer: Values sourced from the Cobb Broiler Performance and Nutrition Supplement 2022, available on The effects of phytase on with soil Formulating Diets with mineral specifications
the Cobb-Vantress website, and the Ross Broiler Specifications for 2019 and 2022, available on the Aviagen amino acid and mineral Digestible Calcium and requires better
· LSP, being inexpensive, is
website. digestibility other than Phosphorus Specifications characterization of ingredient
sometimes used as a filler
phosphorus vary in the Currently, broiler diets are variability and more
help reduce or potentiate the other minerals (Rafael F. Sens in premixes and complete
literature (Lagos et al., 2023). formulated based on total consistent feed quality
requirement for available et al., 2021). feeds
Experience and a holistic calcium and available control. Despite these
phosphorus. Weak chicks at Analyzing the phytate levels While adding more calcium
approach involving other phosphorus. However, there challenges, adopting
hatch and those facing in diet is very important might seem beneficial,
enzyme matrices are is a growing focus on digestible calcium and
management challenges while formulating. overloading broiler diets has
essential for making shifting towards formulation phosphorus standards can
benefit the most from this Ingredients like rice polish, several hidden drawbacks:
informed decisions. using digestible calcium and lead to improved nutrient
supplementation. deoiled rice bran (DORB),
Understanding the · Lower Feed Intake and digestible phosphorus levels utilization, better bird health,
Phytate Phosphorus cottonseed extract, rapeseed Growth: Excess calcium
digestibility and to optimize performance and and enhanced farm
Neutralization and Phytase meal, wheat bran, and depresses feed
requirements of antagonistic profitability. This approach is profitability.
Matrix Consideration sunflower meal have high consumption, slowing
feed components, such as theoretically more precise Lack of Accurate
A significant portion of phytate content. Maize growth rates.
calcium, is necessary to avoid but faces challenges globally Digestibility Data
phosphorus in plant-based gluten meal, groundnut
over-supplementation. · Compromised Gut and in the Indian (Published and Real-Time)
feed ingredients—such as extract, and soymeal contain Health: Acidifiers added
Phytase matrix values are subcontinent. Many feed ingredients lack
corn and soybean meal—is moderate levels. Typically, during stressful periods
specific to the phytase Variability in Ingredient standardized, published data
bound as phytate, which is phytate levels range between to control gut pathogens
source and depend on Digestibility: on digestible calcium and
poorly digestible by broilers. 0.18–0.30% in broiler diets become less effective, as
factors such as enzyme phosphorus levels.
In Indian poultry diets and 0.30–0.50% in layer high calcium raises gut The digestibility and mineral
stability during feed pelleting Nutritionists often rely on
relying on vegetable diets. The use of alternate pH (Laura Shiromi David content of key ingredients
and passage through the generalized or outdated
ingredients, up to 70% of ingredients often raises gastrointestinal tract, as well et al., 2023). like dicalcium phosphate
phosphorus exists as phytate levels, which can (DCP), monocalcium values, which can lead to
as the enzyme's efficiency in · Reduced Fat Absorption: inaccuracies in diet
phytate-P, bound to phytic impact other essential phosphate (MCP), and
degrading inositol Calcium binds dietary formulation. Moreover,
acid molecules and thus nutrients and overall limestone can vary widely
hexakisphosphate (InsP6) fats, forming indigestible published digestibility values
unavailable for digestion and performance. This can be due to differences in
and its lower esters in the "soaps" that hinder fat for the same ingredient can
absorption. Typical phytate mitigated by adding an processing methods, raw
gut environment. absorption. vary widely, complicating
levels in corn- and soybean effective phytase at higher · Impaired Protein material sources, and quality.
meal-based diets range from doses. High Calcium Levels and For instance: precise nutrient balancing.
Their Hidden Costs Digestion: Calcium binds Limestone Solubility and
2.5 to 4.0 g/kg. This can Phytases hydrolyze phytate proteins in the lower gut, · Phosphorus digestibility
negatively impact growth into free myo-inositol and six Excess dietary calcium binds resulting in undigested in DCP ranges from 85% Its Implications
performance and feed molecules of inorganic with phytates, reducing residues in droppings. to 90%, depending on its Limestone is one of the most
efficiency, as phytate can phosphate. This degradation phosphorus bioavailability origin. common and cost-effective
form complexes with improves phosphorus and and protein digestibility. · Mineral Imbalances: High · Limestone's calcium sources of calcium in broiler
calcium disrupts
proteins, amino acids, and calcium digestibility, tibia ash Excess calcium in broiler digestibility is influenced diets. However, its solubility
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