Calcium plays many essential roles in animal and poultry
nutrition. In general, it is required for:
• proper development of bones and teeth
• regulation of heartbeat and blood clotting
• muscle contraction and nerve impulses
• enzyme activation and hormone secretion
• eggshell formation and quality
• reproductive functions (uterine retraction)
• milk production
POULTRY
Calcium is required for:
• sound skeletal development during the growing phase of
layer pullets (to approximately 16 – 20 weeks of age), broilers and turkeys,
and
• the maintenance of skeletal integrity for adult egg layers
(laying hens, breeder hens and turkey hens).
Both FreFlo (a blend of large to small granular calcium
carbonate) and Unical-S (small granular) are utilized in complete feeds (mash)
for poultry. Unical-S is also utilized for pelleted complete feeds.
In adult layers, the focus turns to calcium’s essential role
in good eggshell quality and hatchability. Such birds require larger particles
of calcium carbonate that remain in the gizzard longer to provide for
consistent eggshell formation during non-feeding times. Three ILC Resources
products fulfill this role: Shell & Bone Builder (large particulate),
Unical-F (medium particulate) and Shell & Bone Builder Blend (blend of
large and medium particulate).
Please
contact our Director of Technical Services to discuss your specific poultry
feeding needs by selecting "Nutritionist" when using our
contact form.