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

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(p05) improved body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European Production Efficiency (EPEF). In line with, Ca and NPP intakes were decrease linearly and quadratically with Ca and NPP reducing in diet and higher intakes at T1 resulted in impaired BWG and FCR. On the other hand, carcase parameters and tibia mineralisation were not significantly affected by the reductions. In conclusion, Ca and NPP requirements of Ross 308 broilers seem to be lower than the Aviagen 2014 and 2019 recommendations and reducing almost 20% Ca and NPP intake of broilers is possible, especially after starter period, to maintain performance without any negative effect on bone development.