Effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus on mineral retention, growth, feed efficiency and walking ability in growing turkeys

Abstract

1. Large White male turkeys from a heavy commercial male-line were fed on 16 diets containing 4 concentrations of calcium (6, 10, 14 and 18 g/kg) and available phosphorus (3, 5, 7, 9 g/kg) in a 4 x 4 factorial experiment with three replicates (pens). Turkeys were weighed and food intakes recorded from 4 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 13 weeks of age. 2. The diets containing 6 g/kg calcium and 5, 7 or 9 g/kg available phosphorus concentrations were associated with lower body weighs at 10 and 13 weeks of age. 3. Fewer than 6% of the turkeys had an abnormal gait at 13 weeks of age. 4. The optimum dietary concentrations were 10 g/kg of calcium and 3 g/kg of available phosphorus. It was concluded that these concentrations should be fed at least to 13 weeks of age. 5. Retentions of dietary calcium and phosphorus averaged 300 g/kg of intake. 6. Utilisation of dietary phytate ranged from 5 to 11 g/kg and it is recommended that organic phosphorus should be ignored in the formulation of diets for growing turkeys unless they are supplemented with a phytase enzyme.