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The Calcium and Phosphorus Contents of Chickens of Various Ages*
T h e Calcium and Phosphorus Contents of Chickens of Various Ages* J. R. HAAGf Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Corvallis, Oregon (Received for publication November 12, 1938)
T
* Published as Technical Paper No. 301 with the approval of the Director of the Oregon Experiment Station. Contribution of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry. t The author gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the Department of Poultry Husbandry and the technical assistance of F. E. Fox, J. W. Cook, W. H. Ott and L. D. Wright.
Sussex cockerel and pullet of approximately nine months of age are reported by Halnan (1936). The need for additional analytical information concerning phosphorus requirements is emphasized by Mitchell and McClure (1937). In this paper are presented data showing the calcium and phosphorus contents of the entire bodies (less intestinal tract contents) of White Leghorn chickens for various ages up to 20 weeks of age. These chickens were allowed free access to sunshine and were fed rations containing liberal quantities of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. The chickens were fed according to the procedure outlined elsewhere (Fox 1933). The general procedure was to start the chicks on an all-mash ration and to gradually feed scratch-grain until the mash and scratch-grain were being consumed in roughly equal quantities. The mash used contained 2.60 percent calcium and 1.03 percent phosphorus. Medicinal cod liver oil, such as was commonly available during 1933, was added to the mash at the rate of two percent. The chickens were usually prepared for analysis by charring, followed by lowtemperature ignition in the presence of Mg (N0 3 ) 2 . A few samples were subjected to wet combustion with HN0 3 . Due to difficulties in obtaining representative samples, the entire bodies were treated in the above manner. The analytical results obtained are presented in Table 1. For birds 4 weeks or older, the data are segregated as to sex.
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HE problem of calcium and phosphorus requirements has been largely approached by several general types of procedures. The most common procedure has been to feed rations of known calcium and phosphorus contents in an attempt to determine the minimum levels which apparently permit maximum growth and otherwise normal behavior. For chickens, this procedure has yielded surprisingly uniform results, as has been pointed out in the excellent review of Mitchell and McClure (1937). Another general type of procedure has used as its starting point the analytically determined body contents of calcium and phosphorus, based on tissue analyses, together with more or less appropriate data and assumptions concerning the efficiency of the utilization of feed calcium and phosphorus. Analytical information concerning the net phosphorus requirements of chickens is seriously lacking. Considerably more information concerning ash and calcium (Mitchell, Card & Hamilton, 1926, 1931) is available. Ackerson, Blish, and Mussehl (1935) have presented extensive data for both calcium and phosphorus for day-old and 60-day-old chicks. The ash, calcium and phosphorus contents of the flesh and offal and bones of a Light
280
J. R.
HAAG TABLE 1.—Continued
TABLE 1.—The calcium and phosphorus contents of chickens Age
Sex
Live Calcium PhosWeight phorus grams 38 38 38 36 37 40
Ca/P
grams 0.116 0.119 0.104 0.110 0.111 0.113
1.25 1.17 1.23 1.40 1.39 1.23
38
0.143
0.112
1.28
105 123 106 132 118 116
0.711 0.799 0.777 0.913 0.852 0.822
0.508 0.553 0.518 0.632 0.581 0.570
1.40 1.44 1.50 1.44 1.47 1.44
—
117
0.812
0.560
1.45
M M M F F F
290 200 219 242 210 242
2.304 1.371 1.591 1.897 1.646 1.964
1.508 0.950 1.073 1.236 1.091 1.277
1.53 1.44 1.48 1.53 1.51 1.54
M F
236 231
1.755 1.836
1.177 1.201
1.48 1.53
M M F F F
570 637 522 481 472
5.24 5.65 5.11 4.49 4.03
3.43 3.72 3.39 2.93 2.73
1.53 1.52 1.51 1.53 1.48
M F
604 492
5.45 4.54
3.58 3.02
1.53 1.51
12 12 12 12
M M F F
1000 989 961 998
10.21 9.88 10.67 9.83
6.25 6.06 6.57 6.25
1.63 1.63 1.62 1.57
Average Average
M F
995 990
10.05 10.25
6.16 6.41
1.63 1.60
M M M F F F
1327 1305 1336 1060 1320 900
13.44 14.06 12.73 10.35 13.71 7.25
8.21 8.28 7.76 6.25 8.56 4.22
1.64 1.70 1.64 1.66 1.60 1.72
Average Average
M F
1323 1093
13.41 10.44
8.08 6.34
1.66 1.66
20 20 20 20 20
M M M F F
1355 1385 1355 1010 1053
16.59 16.23 17.62 9.98 9.81
9.62 9.48 9.97 5.93 6.03
1.72 1.71 1.77 1.68 1.63
Average 2 2 2 2 2 2 Average 4 4 4 4 4 4 Average Average 8 8 8 8 8 Average Average
16 16 16 16 16 16
—
—
Live Sex Weight Calcium
Phosphorus
Ca/P
weeks 20
F
grams 1245
grams 10.45
grams 6.11
1.71
Average Average
M F
1365 1103
16.81 10.08
9.69 6.02
1.73 1.67
The day-old chicks contained approximately 0.14 grams calcium and 0.11 grams phosphorus. These values are in harmony with those obtained by Hart, Scott, Kline and Halpin (1930), for the contents of eggs incubated for 20 days and with the calcium contents of day-old chicks as found by Mitchell, Card and Hamilton (1931). There is also good general agreement with the results of Ackerson, Blish & Mussehl (193S) for day-old chicks. The day-old chick begins life with a calcium content of approximately 0.14 grams and a phosphorus content of approximately 0.11 grams. The Ca/P content ratio at this age is approximately 1.3. From then on calcium is stored at a more rapid rate than phosphorus. During the earlier weeks of life, the Ca/P storage ratio is approximately 1.5. By 20 weeks of age, the storage ratio is approximately 1.7. It therefore appears that the Ca/P content ratio follows a very definite curve analogous to that previously established by Sherman and Quinn (1926) for rats. The type of results presented in this paper permits the precise calculation of the amounts of calcium and phosphorus stored during any period of the life cycle. Appropriate data and assumptions concerning the efficiency of utilization of feed calcium and phosphorus are, however, necessary in order to calculate feed calcium and phosphorus requirements. While values for feed calcium and phosphorus requirements calculated from the net requirements are subject to certain limitations, it
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 18, 2015
grams 0.145 0.139 0.128 0.154 0.154 0.139
weeks 0 0 0 0 0 0
Age
T H E CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS CONTENTS OF CHICKENS
is obvious that marked fluctuations in calcium and phosphorus intakes, incident to feeding and management practices, should be carefully scrutinized.
REFERENCES
Ackerson, C. W., M. J. Blish, and F. E. Mussehl, 1935. The utilization of nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus by the growing chick. Agricultural
Experiment Station Research Bulletin 80, University of Nebraska. Fox, F. E., 1933. Chick brooding. Extension Bulletin 465, Oregon State Agricultural College. Hainan, E. T., 1936. The role of minerals in poultry nutrition. Proceedings Sixth Worlds Poultry Congress 1:53-64. Hart, E. B., H. T. Scott, O. L. Kline, and J. G. Halpin, 1930. The calcium-phosphorus ratio in the nutrition of growing chicks. Poul. Sci. 9:296-306. Mitchell, H. H., L. E. Card, and T. S. Hamilton, 1926. The growth of White Plymouth Rock chickens. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 278. , 1931. A technical study of the growth of white leghorn chickens. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 367, University of Illinois. Mitchell, H..H. and F. J. McClure, 1937. Mineral nutrition of farm animals. National Research Council, Washington, D.C. Sherman, H. C , and E. J. Quinn, 1926. The phosphorus content of the body in relation to age, growth, and food. J. Biol. Chem. 67:667677.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 18, 2015
SUMMARY 1. The calcium and phosphorus contents of the bodies of chickens have been determined for the period from birth to 20 weeks of age. 2. The Ca/P content and storage ratios follow definite paths during the life cycle. 3. Included in this paper are certain comments concerning the usefulness and limitations of our data.
281
T
* Published as Technical Paper No. 301 with the approval of the Director of the Oregon Experiment Station. Contribution of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry. t The author gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the Department of Poultry Husbandry and the technical assistance of F. E. Fox, J. W. Cook, W. H. Ott and L. D. Wright.
Sussex cockerel and pullet of approximately nine months of age are reported by Halnan (1936). The need for additional analytical information concerning phosphorus requirements is emphasized by Mitchell and McClure (1937). In this paper are presented data showing the calcium and phosphorus contents of the entire bodies (less intestinal tract contents) of White Leghorn chickens for various ages up to 20 weeks of age. These chickens were allowed free access to sunshine and were fed rations containing liberal quantities of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. The chickens were fed according to the procedure outlined elsewhere (Fox 1933). The general procedure was to start the chicks on an all-mash ration and to gradually feed scratch-grain until the mash and scratch-grain were being consumed in roughly equal quantities. The mash used contained 2.60 percent calcium and 1.03 percent phosphorus. Medicinal cod liver oil, such as was commonly available during 1933, was added to the mash at the rate of two percent. The chickens were usually prepared for analysis by charring, followed by lowtemperature ignition in the presence of Mg (N0 3 ) 2 . A few samples were subjected to wet combustion with HN0 3 . Due to difficulties in obtaining representative samples, the entire bodies were treated in the above manner. The analytical results obtained are presented in Table 1. For birds 4 weeks or older, the data are segregated as to sex.
[279]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 18, 2015
HE problem of calcium and phosphorus requirements has been largely approached by several general types of procedures. The most common procedure has been to feed rations of known calcium and phosphorus contents in an attempt to determine the minimum levels which apparently permit maximum growth and otherwise normal behavior. For chickens, this procedure has yielded surprisingly uniform results, as has been pointed out in the excellent review of Mitchell and McClure (1937). Another general type of procedure has used as its starting point the analytically determined body contents of calcium and phosphorus, based on tissue analyses, together with more or less appropriate data and assumptions concerning the efficiency of the utilization of feed calcium and phosphorus. Analytical information concerning the net phosphorus requirements of chickens is seriously lacking. Considerably more information concerning ash and calcium (Mitchell, Card & Hamilton, 1926, 1931) is available. Ackerson, Blish, and Mussehl (1935) have presented extensive data for both calcium and phosphorus for day-old and 60-day-old chicks. The ash, calcium and phosphorus contents of the flesh and offal and bones of a Light
280
J. R.
HAAG TABLE 1.—Continued
TABLE 1.—The calcium and phosphorus contents of chickens Age
Sex
Live Calcium PhosWeight phorus grams 38 38 38 36 37 40
Ca/P
grams 0.116 0.119 0.104 0.110 0.111 0.113
1.25 1.17 1.23 1.40 1.39 1.23
38
0.143
0.112
1.28
105 123 106 132 118 116
0.711 0.799 0.777 0.913 0.852 0.822
0.508 0.553 0.518 0.632 0.581 0.570
1.40 1.44 1.50 1.44 1.47 1.44
—
117
0.812
0.560
1.45
M M M F F F
290 200 219 242 210 242
2.304 1.371 1.591 1.897 1.646 1.964
1.508 0.950 1.073 1.236 1.091 1.277
1.53 1.44 1.48 1.53 1.51 1.54
M F
236 231
1.755 1.836
1.177 1.201
1.48 1.53
M M F F F
570 637 522 481 472
5.24 5.65 5.11 4.49 4.03
3.43 3.72 3.39 2.93 2.73
1.53 1.52 1.51 1.53 1.48
M F
604 492
5.45 4.54
3.58 3.02
1.53 1.51
12 12 12 12
M M F F
1000 989 961 998
10.21 9.88 10.67 9.83
6.25 6.06 6.57 6.25
1.63 1.63 1.62 1.57
Average Average
M F
995 990
10.05 10.25
6.16 6.41
1.63 1.60
M M M F F F
1327 1305 1336 1060 1320 900
13.44 14.06 12.73 10.35 13.71 7.25
8.21 8.28 7.76 6.25 8.56 4.22
1.64 1.70 1.64 1.66 1.60 1.72
Average Average
M F
1323 1093
13.41 10.44
8.08 6.34
1.66 1.66
20 20 20 20 20
M M M F F
1355 1385 1355 1010 1053
16.59 16.23 17.62 9.98 9.81
9.62 9.48 9.97 5.93 6.03
1.72 1.71 1.77 1.68 1.63
Average 2 2 2 2 2 2 Average 4 4 4 4 4 4 Average Average 8 8 8 8 8 Average Average
16 16 16 16 16 16
—
—
Live Sex Weight Calcium
Phosphorus
Ca/P
weeks 20
F
grams 1245
grams 10.45
grams 6.11
1.71
Average Average
M F
1365 1103
16.81 10.08
9.69 6.02
1.73 1.67
The day-old chicks contained approximately 0.14 grams calcium and 0.11 grams phosphorus. These values are in harmony with those obtained by Hart, Scott, Kline and Halpin (1930), for the contents of eggs incubated for 20 days and with the calcium contents of day-old chicks as found by Mitchell, Card and Hamilton (1931). There is also good general agreement with the results of Ackerson, Blish & Mussehl (193S) for day-old chicks. The day-old chick begins life with a calcium content of approximately 0.14 grams and a phosphorus content of approximately 0.11 grams. The Ca/P content ratio at this age is approximately 1.3. From then on calcium is stored at a more rapid rate than phosphorus. During the earlier weeks of life, the Ca/P storage ratio is approximately 1.5. By 20 weeks of age, the storage ratio is approximately 1.7. It therefore appears that the Ca/P content ratio follows a very definite curve analogous to that previously established by Sherman and Quinn (1926) for rats. The type of results presented in this paper permits the precise calculation of the amounts of calcium and phosphorus stored during any period of the life cycle. Appropriate data and assumptions concerning the efficiency of utilization of feed calcium and phosphorus are, however, necessary in order to calculate feed calcium and phosphorus requirements. While values for feed calcium and phosphorus requirements calculated from the net requirements are subject to certain limitations, it
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 18, 2015
grams 0.145 0.139 0.128 0.154 0.154 0.139
weeks 0 0 0 0 0 0
Age
T H E CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS CONTENTS OF CHICKENS
is obvious that marked fluctuations in calcium and phosphorus intakes, incident to feeding and management practices, should be carefully scrutinized.
REFERENCES
Ackerson, C. W., M. J. Blish, and F. E. Mussehl, 1935. The utilization of nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus by the growing chick. Agricultural
Experiment Station Research Bulletin 80, University of Nebraska. Fox, F. E., 1933. Chick brooding. Extension Bulletin 465, Oregon State Agricultural College. Hainan, E. T., 1936. The role of minerals in poultry nutrition. Proceedings Sixth Worlds Poultry Congress 1:53-64. Hart, E. B., H. T. Scott, O. L. Kline, and J. G. Halpin, 1930. The calcium-phosphorus ratio in the nutrition of growing chicks. Poul. Sci. 9:296-306. Mitchell, H. H., L. E. Card, and T. S. Hamilton, 1926. The growth of White Plymouth Rock chickens. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 278. , 1931. A technical study of the growth of white leghorn chickens. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 367, University of Illinois. Mitchell, H..H. and F. J. McClure, 1937. Mineral nutrition of farm animals. National Research Council, Washington, D.C. Sherman, H. C , and E. J. Quinn, 1926. The phosphorus content of the body in relation to age, growth, and food. J. Biol. Chem. 67:667677.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 18, 2015
SUMMARY 1. The calcium and phosphorus contents of the bodies of chickens have been determined for the period from birth to 20 weeks of age. 2. The Ca/P content and storage ratios follow definite paths during the life cycle. 3. Included in this paper are certain comments concerning the usefulness and limitations of our data.
281