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Calcium Supplementation
What form of active calcium is better absorbed at highest availability
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8 Replies
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Organic with grit
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Thanks
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Calcium supplementation are of two forms.
Organic Calcium and Inorganic or Synthetic Calcium.
Organic calcium supplementation comes from calcium of Animal origin such as Bone meal and OysterShell. Both Animal Calcium sources are categorized as soluble grit calcium sources and are readily available to the birds or any livestocks diet respectively.
Inorganic Calcium source supplement include, Calcium carbonate and synthetic Dicalcium phosphate.
Calcium carbonate or Limestone is an insoluble grit form of calcium and thus not readily available to the animals or birds
Dicalcium phosphate or synthetic form of calcium is the most readily available calcium source to the animals or birds.
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Calcium Lactate / Calcium Citrate
Highly soluble and better absorbed than traditional forms.
Calcium citrate is especially effective in: Low gastric acid environments, Young or sick animals, Absorption Efficiency: High
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The form of active calcium with the highest bioavailability (i.e., how well it is absorbed and utilized by the body) depends on its solubility, ionic state, and compatibility with the animal’s digestive system.
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This is a very detailed explanation. Thanks for sharing
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The form of active calcium that is better absorbed at the highest availability for poultry birds, particularly laying hens, is primarily focused on particle size and solubility, as this affects how efficiently it can be stored and used for eggshell production.
The most common and effective source of calcium for poultry is limestone, which is essentially calcium carbonate (CaCO_3). However, its effectiveness is highly dependent on its physical form.
Here’s a breakdown of what makes a calcium source highly available for poultry:
* Particle Size:
* Coarse Particles: For laying hens, coarse-particle limestone is superior to fine-particle or powdered limestone. The reason is that coarse particles (2-4 mm) are retained in the gizzard for a longer period. This provides a slow, steady release of calcium, particularly during the night when the hen is not eating but is actively forming an eggshell.
* Fine Particles: While fine-particle limestone is absorbed quickly, it can lead to a calcium “spike” in the blood shortly after consumption. This isn’t ideal because the hen’s body needs a continuous supply of calcium for eggshell formation, which takes place mostly at night. When the hen runs out of this readily available calcium, she may start drawing it from her bones, leading to a condition called osteoporosis.
* Solubility:
* Oyster Shell: Crushed oyster shell is another excellent and highly bioavailable calcium source for poultry. It has a similar coarse particle size to large-particle limestone, allowing for a slow and sustained release of calcium. The added benefit is that the oyster shell matrix also contains trace minerals.
* Combination of Particle Sizes:
* Many successful poultry nutrition programs utilize a combination of both fine and coarse particles. The fine particles provide an immediate source of calcium for daily metabolic needs, while the coarse particles provide the slow-release source essential for strong eggshells and maintaining bone health.
Key takeaway for poultry:
The best-absorbed and most available form of calcium isn’t just about the chemical composition (CaCO_3). It’s critically about the physical form and particle size. A mix of coarse and fine-particle limestone or oyster shell is considered the gold standard for providing a continuous supply of calcium, which is crucial for maximizing eggshell quality and preventing skeletal problems in laying hens.
In summary, for poultry, the highest bioavailability is achieved not by a different chemical form of calcium, but by providing calcium carbonate in a physical form that ensures a slow, sustained release, primarily through the use of coarse-particle limestone or oyster shell.Thank you for the clarification. When discussing calcium for poultry, the principles are similar but the context and specific needs are different, especially for laying hens.
The form of active calcium that is better absorbed at the highest availability for poultry birds, particularly laying hens, is primarily focused on particle size and solubility, as this affects how efficiently it can be stored and used for eggshell production.
The most common and effective source of calcium for poultry is limestone, which is essentially calcium carbonate (CaCO_3). However, its effectiveness is highly dependent on its physical form.
Here’s a breakdown of what makes a calcium source highly available for poultry:
* Particle Size:
* Coarse Particles: For laying hens, coarse-particle limestone is superior to fine-particle or powdered limestone. The reason is that coarse particles (2-4 mm) are retained in the gizzard for a longer period. This provides a slow, steady release of calcium, particularly during the night when the hen is not eating but is actively forming an eggshell.
* Fine Particles: While fine-particle limestone is absorbed quickly, it can lead to a calcium “spike” in the blood shortly after consumption. This isn’t ideal because the hen’s body needs a continuous supply of calcium for eggshell formation, which takes place mostly at night. When the hen runs out of this readily available calcium, she may start drawing it from her bones, leading to a condition called osteoporosis.
* Solubility:
* Oyster Shell: Crushed oyster shell is another excellent and highly bioavailable calcium source for poultry. It has a similar coarse particle size to large-particle limestone, allowing for a slow and sustained release of calcium. The added benefit is that the oyster shell matrix also contains trace minerals.
* Combination of Particle Sizes:
* Many successful poultry nutrition programs utilize a combination of both fine and coarse particles. The fine particles provide an immediate source of calcium for daily metabolic needs, while the coarse particles provide the slow-release source essential for strong eggshells and maintaining bone health.
Key takeaway for poultry:
The best-absorbed and most available form of calcium isn’t just about the chemical composition (CaCO_3). It’s critically about the physical form and particle size. A mix of coarse and fine-particle limestone or oyster shell is considered the gold standard for providing a continuous supply of calcium, which is crucial for maximizing eggshell quality and preventing skeletal problems in laying hens.
In summary, for poultry, the highest bioavailability is achieved not by a different chemical form of calcium, but by providing calcium carbonate in a physical form that ensures a slow, sustained release, primarily through the use of coarse-particle limestone or oyster shell. -
Calcium in the form of calcium lactate or calcium chloride is more readily absorbed due to its higher solubility compared to calcium carbonate, making it ideal when quick calcium availability is needed.
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