Fossil oyster shells as additional calcium source
Modern poultry feed is designed for high efficiency and increased performance whilst at the same time optimally exploiting genetic performance potential and improved feed conversion. To achieve this requires well-balanced animal health, sound farm management and a poultry keeping and feeding programme adapted to the performance level.
An appropriate calcium supply for the birds is of paramount importance in this context. Calcium (Ca) is the most abundant of all minerals found in the bodies of vertebrates. About 80% of the Ca resorbed from food is transferred into the bones, and about 98% is stored in the skeleton. The minerals in bone are continuously exchanged with the minerals in the blood plasma.
Ground limestone is the most commonly used source of Ca in poultry feed. It is cheap and quickly soluble (see adjacent graph). Another potential Ca source is fossil oyster shells, which are classified as a slower soluble Ca source. This characteristic has been used to ensure a sufficient supply of Ca for some time in layer feed.
it was agreed with the manufacturer of OYTA Oystershells, van der Endt-Louwerse b.v., that a field trial would be performed under the supervision of agroproduct QualitÃ¤tssicherungs GmbH.
Two similar broiler houses at a farm in Brandenburg with about 15,000 birds each were selected to perform the trial. The Ross 308 chicks were from the same breeder and were set up and delivered at the same time. The chicks were fed for 36 days. A standard feed recipe was used during the trial.
Article made possible through the contribution of QualitÃ¤tssicherungs GmbH.
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Article made possible through the contribution of Qualitatssicherungs GmbH.