Influence of dietary calcium and phosphorus levels on growth performance, bone quality and apparent nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens

The study investigated the effects of varying dietary calcium level on performance and digestibility of broiler chickens. A total of 126, 1-day old birds were fed with three dietary levels of calcium: phosphorus (NRC,1.25 and 1.5 NRC) for 6 weeks. Chicken fed diets containing 1.5 NRC requirements of Ca: P had lower body weight and apparent nutrient digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and phosphorus compared with 1 and 1.25 NRC. In contrast, birds fed 1.25 NRC had significantly higher (p<0.05) bone quality, ash, Ca and P digestibility than NRC. It can be concluded that, increasing level of calcium: phosphorus up to 1.25 NRC requirement can improve broiler performance, bone quality and apparent nutrient digestibility.

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