The Effect of Reducing Calcium and Phosphorous on Broiler Performance

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate different levels of calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) on ileum microbial content, and performance of broilers. In a completely randomized design test with four treatment diets containing; NRC level (control), 10, 20 and 30% lower than NRC level of Ca and P with four replicates and 30 Ross broiler chicken per replicate in 44 days (12-56 days of age), food consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), serum and tibia Ca and P, and duodenal and jejunal epithelial protein were evaluated weekly. Results indicated that serum Ca and P was not affected at all, in contrast, Ca and P content of the tibia were significantly (p< 0.05) affected, with the lowest level in 30% reduced group. FCR was also influenced by the levels of Ca and P on the diet significantly (p< 0.05) which reduced by decreasing their levels. Reduction of Ca and P of the ration did not affect the microbial content of the ileum but affected the protein content of the intestinal epithelium significantly (p< 0.05) in different weeks.