SOURCES OF MINERAL FOR POULTRY DIETS
Calcium is an important nutrient in poultry diets. It is the most abundant mineral found in the body and functions in bone formation and maintenance, blood clotting, muscle contractions, transmission of nerve impulses, regulation of the heart beat, enzyme activation, hormone secretion, and egg production/shell quality.
Most grains are deficient in calcium. There are several sources of calcium commonly used in poultry diets
Source Calcium (%) Calcium carbonate (limestone) 38 Oystershell 38 Bone meal, steamed
23 Mono-calcium phosphate 15 - 18 Dicalcium phosphate 19 - 22 Defluorinated calcium phosphate 30 - 32
Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral found in the body, primarily in the bones. Phosphorus is important in many metabolic functions (energy, protein and fat metabolism), bone formation and maintenance, muscle tissue formation and egg formation.
Grains contain large amounts of phosphorus BUT almost all of it is bound to phytin making it unavailable for poultry and swine. There are a few sources of phosphorus available for use in poultry diets.
Source Phosphorus (%) Defluorinated phosphate 18.1 Monocalcium phosphate 21 Dicalcium phosphate 18.5 Bone meal, steamed
8 - 14 Meat and bone meal 2 - 7.5 Fish meal 2 - 7 Soft rock phosphate 9
Potassium is the third most abundant mineral found in the body. It is important in osmotic balance between cells and body fluids. As a result, it is important in acid-base balance, ionic balance, and water balance. Potassium is also important in enzyme activation as well as oxygen and carbon dioxide transport in the blood.
Grains are low in potassium while protein feeds are high. Meat and bone meal has 1.3% potassium. Cane and beet molasses are also contain a lot of potassium.here are additional sources of potassium that can be added to poultry diets.
Source Potassium (%) Potassium chloride 50.5 Potassium sulfate 41.0
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