Revealing hidden imbalances in broiler calcium-phosphorus nutrition
A new global analysis from DSM-Firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health suggests that mineral nutrition programs in commercial broiler production may not always reflect birds’ true physiological needs.
A new insights report, ‘Physiology-led assessment of calcium and phosphorus status in commercial broilers’ is based on thousands of Verax blood biomarker samples collected from broiler flocks across 16 countries between 2019 and 2026. The findings indicate that many broiler flocks show blood phosphorus and calcium concentrations that fall outside healthy reference ranges, even when feed formulations appear aligned with standard nutritional guidelines.
Why it matters:
- Phosphorus oversupply can increase feed costs and contribute to environmental nutrient loading where undersupply can compromise growth rate and welfare.
- Calcium oversupply can damage the kidney and create wet litter, whereas undersupply leads to skeletal abnormalities and high mortality.
- A physiology-led monitoring approach may enable more precise mineral nutrition, supporting bone health, flock uniformity, and nutrient efficiency.
What the report explores
The report provides a global snapshot of broiler calcium and phosphorus physiology and examines factors that may influence mineral status in commercial flocks, including:
- The difference between ionized and total calcium measurements.
- The role of vitamin D metabolism.
- Phytase efficacy in practical diets.
- The impact of limestone solubility and particle size.
- Interactions between acid-base balance and mineral metabolism.
Together, the analysis highlights opportunities for producers and nutritionists to optimise calcium and phosphorus supply without compromising performance.
Aligning nutrient supply with biological demand
According to the report, integrating physiological biomarker data with feed formulation practices could help poultry producers and integrators better align nutrient supply with biological demand – potentially reducing feed costs while improving sustainability outcomes.
The report shows that flock mineral status can be difficult to predict using conventional measures. Verax biomarkers enable a physiology-led, data-driven approach for precise nutrition, boosting bone health, flock uniformity, and nutrient efficiency while cutting excess phosphorus and reducing environmental impact.
“These results show that broiler mineral levels can vary widely even when feeds appear balanced, highlighting the limits of traditional measurement approaches,” says Dr Aaron Cowieson, head of Digital Consultancy & Solutions at DSM-Firmenich. “By using Verax biomarkers, we can take a physiology-led, data-driven approach to nutrition, supporting stronger bones, more uniform flocks and better nutrient efficiency, all while reducing unnecessary phosphorus and lowering environmental impact.”
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