Requirements of Dietary Calcium for Broiler Chickens from 11 to 42 Days of Age
Requirements of Dietary Calcium for Broiler Chickens from 11 to 42 Days of Age
Zeyad Kamal Imari
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to explore the optimal level of dietary calcium for 11 to 42 day old broilers. Three hundred and sixty commercial broiler chickens were used in this study. The broiler chickens were randomly placed in 36 pens with 6 groups, each group contained 6 pens with 10 birds for each pen. Six experimental diets with different levels of calcium (Ca) were formulated to be as follows: 1.4% Ca, 1.2% Ca, 1% Ca, 0.8% Ca, 0.6% Ca and 0.4% Ca. The polynomial regression equations were used to estimate nutritional requirements of calcium. Results show the different levels of dietary calcium had quadratic impact on calcium, phosphorus, and ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) levels in the serum (p=0.027; p<0.0001 and p=0.0006 respectively). The ash, calcium and phosphorus content of tibia were showed non-linear responses (p<0.0001) when the dietary calcium reduced from 1.4% to 0.4%. Lower calcium in the diet non-linearly increases (p<0.05) dressing percentage and relative weight of the breast and leg. The results also showed that predicted dietary calcium requirements for dressing percentage and relative weight of breast and leg were 0.86, 0.83, and 0.81% respectively. While predicted dietary calcium requirements for ash, calcium, and phosphorus content in the tibia were 0.85, 0.86, and 0.73% respectively.
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