Comparative efficacy of different phosphorus supplements in broiler diet

A 4x3 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different phosphorus sources supplemented at graded levels in broiler diet in comparison to feed grade dicalcium phosphate (DCP). The P sources tested were calcium hydrogen phosphate (CHP), diammonium phosphate (DAP) and single super phosphate (SSP). A corn-soybean meal based diet containing 21 per cent crude protein and 2770 kcal/kg metabolizable energy was prepared. To this basal diet, different P sources were added in varying proportions to furnish 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% available phosphorus (AP) in diet. Day old straight run broiler chicks (288) were distributed randomly into 36 groups of 8 chicks each. Each of the twelve experimental diets was randomly offered ad lib as mash for 6 weeks.

The performance of chicks with respect to body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio was superior (P<0.05) in groups fed DCP and SSP supplemented diets than CHP and DAP supplemented diets. However, the dietary P levels did not affect body weight gain, feed intake and FCR of chicks. P source, level and their interaction did not affect the serum calcium concentration of the chicks. However, significantly (P<0.05) lower serum alkaline phosphotase activity was found in SSP fed group than other P sources. Serum inorganic phosphorus was found to increase significantly (P<0.05) as the level of AP was increased in diet. It is concluded that fertilizer grade single super phosphate can be used m broiler diet in place of costly dicalcium phosphate as a phosphorus source without affecting the growth performance and blood parameters, at dietary AP levels of 0.4%.