Response of modern broiler chickens to dietary calcium and phosphorus levels below recommendations

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of reduced dietary calcium (Ca) and non-phytate-phosphorus (NPP) levels on performance, carcase yield and bone mineralisation of modern broilers. 11,200 one-day-old chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 7 treatments and 8 replicates with standard recommended level and six different levels of Ca and NPP reduction with completely randomised block design. Treatments were divided into following diets; T1: ross recommended control, T2: 94%, 95% and 91% as percentage of T1, T3: 94%, 95% and 83% as percentage of T1, T4: 94%, 91% and 83% as percentage of T1, T5: 94%, 91% and 77% as percentage of T1, T6: 94%, 86% and 83% as percentage of T1 and T7: 94%, 86% and 77% as percentage of T1 for starter, grower and finisher periods, respectively. Results showed that, the Ca and NPP reduction (T2–T7) through starter period did not significantly (p>.05) affect performance but when considered whole period, quadratically (p