Towards the determination of the level of dietary phosphorus and calcium in pullets and laying hens that will optimize body mineral status, maximize performance, longevity, welfare and the industry sustainability

Principal Investigator

Marie-Pierre Létourneau Montminy, Laval University

Year the work was done

2018-2023

Overall objective

  • Develop a mathematical model of the fate of dietary phosphorus and calcium in pullets and laying hens to establish dietary recommendations.

Specific objectives

  • Adapt a model that was developed in broilers for the flow of dietary phosphorus and calcium to that in pullets and laying hens.
  • Predict the effect of Ca particle size of Ca use and integrate particle size into the model, and validate the model in an animal trial.

This research applies to

Breeders, Layers

This research was supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Poultry Research Council, Egg Farmers of Canada, DSM and Avimix.