Effect of Feeding a High Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio, Phosphorous Deficient Diet on Hypophosphatemic Rickets Onset in Broilers

Abstract

Recently, a P-deficient diet caused rickets in commercial chicks within three days. This study aimed to investigate the duration of onset of rickets in chicks. Data were collected from 3–11 day old chicks raised on 88 commercial farms. Male day-old Arbor Acres Plus broilers (n = 450) were studied in three trials, with three to four treatments each. Each treatment used one of the following crumbled feeds: control feed (calcium (Ca): phosphorus (P)-1.41), slightly high Ca:P feed (SHCa:P, Ca:P-2.69), high Ca:P ratio, P deficient feed (HCa:P, Ca:P-3.08), and HCa:P feed plus 1.5% dicalcium phosphate (HCa:P + DP). Each treatment had three replicates with 15 birds each. Rickets was induced by HCa:P, and cured by HCa:P + DP, confirmed by gross anatomy, gait score, serum P concentration and growth performance. Lameness was not found in control groups, whereas, observed in the HCa:P groups as early as day 2.7 on commercial farms and day 3 in experimental farm. Serum P was reduced in HCa:P (p < 0.01). Bodyweight and feed intake started decreasing at day 3 on commercial farms and in all trials (p < 0.01). The duration of onset of hypophosphatemic rickets in broiler chicks fed HCa:P crumbled feed is approximately three days.

Response evaluation of broiler chickens to different dietary calcium-tophosphorus ratios: Effect on growth performance, nutrients retention and intestinal morphology

“…Li et al (2012) noted that the body weight, weight gain and feed intake were reduced by high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Xu et al (2021) observed that the levels of lameness and rickets increased in birds fed a low phosphorus diet especially when the Ca-to-AvP ratio was unbalanced (a high Ca:P ratio), whereas, birds fed a low phosphorous diet with a balanced Ca:P ratio recorded optimal growth performance and a healthy bone structure.…”

Effects of a Diet Low in Vitamin and Mineral Complex and Darkness on the Growth Performance, Mineralization and Femur Histological Structure of Broiler Chickens

“…Nutritional deficiencies can affect broiler chickens weight and weight gain by interfering with their ability to grow and develop their skeletons (Ventura and Matias da Silva, 2019). A study by Xu et al (2021) showed that body weight and weight gain were affected by dietary calcium and phosphorus deficiency, causing a reduction in both parameters.…”

Recent Advancements in Poultry Health, Nutrition and Sustainability

“…The amount of phosphorus in the diet is also under debate. However, a P-deficient diet caused rickets in commercial chicks within three days [4]. There is constant pressure from pathogens and new threats, such as avian flu, that require new treatments and biosecurity measures.…”