{"id":7662,"date":"2015-11-26T14:59:27","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T14:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/?page_id=7662"},"modified":"2016-04-18T14:42:21","modified_gmt":"2016-04-18T13:42:21","slug":"ca-and-p-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/poultry-diseases\/ca-and-p-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignright\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/poultry-diseases\/ca-and-p-deficiency\/?pfstyle=wp\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"pfTrackEvent(&#039;Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pf-button-img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-notext.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\" style=\"width: 110px;height: 30px;\"  \/>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div><\/p>\n<h2>Poultry Diseases<\/h2><div id=\"gticontainer\"><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><div id=\"gti_letterindex\"><ul><li><a href=\"#gti_all\">All<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_A\" href=\"#\">A<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_B\" href=\"#\">B<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_C\" href=\"#\">C<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_D\" href=\"#\">D<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_E\" href=\"#\">E<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_F\" href=\"#\">F<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_G\" href=\"#\">G<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_H\" href=\"#\">H<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_I\" href=\"#\">I<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_M\" href=\"#\">M<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_N\" href=\"#\">N<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_O\" href=\"#\">O<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_P\" href=\"#\">P<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_R\" href=\"#\">R<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_S\" href=\"#\">S<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_T\" href=\"#\">T<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tagindex\"><div id='gti_div_A'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_A'>A<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/acute-death-syndrome\/\">Acute Death Syndrome<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/aflatoxicosis\/\">Aflatoxicosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/ascites\/\">Ascites<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/aspergillosis\/\">Aspergillosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/avian-mycoplasmosis\/\">Avian Mycoplasmosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_B'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_B'>B<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/blackhead\/\">Blackhead<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/bronchitis\/\">Bronchitis - Infectious<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/bumblefoot\/\">Bumblefoot<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_C'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_C'>C<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/ca-and-p-deficiency\/\">Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/cannibalism\/\">Cannibalism<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/chronic-respiratory-disease\/\">Chronic Respiratory Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/coccidiosis-in-poultry\/\">Coccidiosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/crop-impaction\/\">Crop Impaction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_D'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_D'>D<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/dermanyssus-gallinae\/\">Dermanyssus gallinae<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/duodenal-dropsy\/\">Duodenal Dropsy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_E'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_E'>E<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/eimeria-in-chickens\/\">Eimeria in Chickens<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/enterohepatitis\/\">Enterohepatitis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_F'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_F'>F<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/favus\/\">Favus<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/poultry-feather-pecking\/\">Feather Pecking<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/flip-over\/\">Flip Over<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/foot-burn\/\">Foot Burn<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/foot-lesions\/\">Foot Lesions<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/footpad-dermatitis\/\">Footpad Dermatitis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_G'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_G'>G<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/gapes\/\">Gapes<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/gizzard-impaction\/\">Gizzard Impaction<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/grass-impaction\/\">Grass Impaction<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/gumboro\/\">Gumboro<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_H'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_H'>H<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/helminthiasis\/\">Helminthiasis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/histomoniasis\/\">Histomoniasis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_I'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_I'>I<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/infectious-bronchitis\/\">Infectious Bronchitis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/infectious-bursal-disease\/\">Infectious Bursal Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/infectious-enterohepatitis\/\">Infectious Enterohepatitis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_M'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_M'>M<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/microsporum-gypseum\/\">Microsporum gypseum<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/mites\/\">Mites<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/mycoplasmosis\/\">Mycoplasmosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_N'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_N'>N<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/northern-fowl-mite\/\">Northern Fowl Mite<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_O'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_O'>O<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/ornithonyssus-sylvarum\/\">Ornithonyssus sylvarum<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/osteoporosis\/\">Osteoporosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_P'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_P'>P<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/pododermatitis\/\">Pododermatitis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_R'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_R'>R<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/red-poultry-mite\/\">Red Poultry Mite<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_S'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_S'>S<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/scaly-leg-mite\/\">Scaly Leg Mite<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/sudden-death-syndrome\/\">Sudden Death Syndrome<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/syngamus-trachea\/\">Syngamus trachea<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_T'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_T'>T<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/poultry-diseases\/\/trichophyton-megninii\/\">Trichophyton megninii<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h4>Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency in Poultry<\/h4>\n<p><em><strong>Also known as: Osteoporosis<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"responsive\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7664\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/osteoporosis-from-Dr-Wolgin-website.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7664\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/osteoporosis-from-Dr-Wolgin-website-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"Osteroporosis versus normal bone matrix\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/osteoporosis-from-Dr-Wolgin-website-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/osteoporosis-from-Dr-Wolgin-website.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7664\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>This image illustrates the difference between normal healthy bone matrix and\u00a0an osteoporetic bone. \u00a0This image is from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.drwolgin.com\">www.drwolgin.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><strong>Both calcium and phosphorus are required for the synthesis of bone. These elements also play an important role in the nervous system, blood clotting and muscle contraction. Stored in bone they provide not only mechanical strength but also a reserve for periods of increased requirement (e.g., during egg laying) or periods of nutritional deficiency.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Calcium and phosphorus deficiencies can lead to abnormal skeletal development, or rickets in the growing chick, and osteoporosis in older birds. Although rickets is frequently associated with a deficiency of calcium, the condition is most likely to arise in situations of vitamin D deficiency (<a href=\"#ref\">Wise, 1979<\/a>). Osteoporosis results from calcium being removed from bone to meet other needs, and this causes porous and brittle bones (<a href=\"#ref\">Long et al., 1984<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Newly hatched chicks need an immediate supply of dietary calcium for bone development. Since at this age chicks are <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Pertaining to osteoporosis which is bone which is more porous than it should be\">osteoporotic<\/a><\/span>, an absence of calcium or vitamin D makes this condition more pronounced.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"responsive\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7694\" style=\"width: 273px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Medullary-cavity-in-bone.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7694\" class=\" wp-image-7694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Medullary-cavity-in-bone.jpg\" alt=\"Medullary-cavity-in-bone\" width=\"263\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Medullary-cavity-in-bone.jpg 221w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Medullary-cavity-in-bone-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7694\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>The medullary cavity is the\u00a0central area inside a bone where bone marrow is stored. Red bloods cells, white blood cells and fat calls are formed in the bone marrow and\u00a0it has a vascular section which supplied the bone with nutrients and transports the cells around the body.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span>The <strong>first signs<\/strong> of a deficiency of calcium, phosphorus or vitamin D, or all of these, are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lameness<\/li>\n<li>Stiff legs<\/li>\n<li>Ruffled feathers<\/li>\n<li>A reduction in growth<\/li>\n<li>Leg bones appear rubbery<\/li>\n<li>Joints become enlarged<\/li>\n<li>A calcium deficient diet may cause paralysis followed by death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In growing pullets, a calcium deficiency can result in increased general activity and environmental pecking (<a href=\"#ref\">Hughes and Wood-Gush, 1973<\/a>). The pullet&#8217;s requirement for calcium is relatively low during the growing period,\u00a0but the bird still needs properly balanced phosphorous and calcium in its diet. When laying starts the need is increased at least four times, largely for the production of eggshells (<a href=\"#ref\">Jacob et al., 2003<\/a>) as the egg shell is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Thus an early sign of calcium deficiency in laying hens is the production of thin and soft-shelled eggs.<\/p>\n<p>Calcium is stored in the medullary cavity of the bone capable of rapid calcium turnover (See diagram). Whereas caged hens may suffer calcium depletion and brittle bones, birds on the ground tend not to suffer as they recycle calcium and phosphorus through <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Eating feces\">coprophagy<\/a><\/span> (<a href=\"#ref\">Jacob et al., 2003<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The nutritional role of phosphorus is closely related to that of calcium. The ratio of dietary calcium to phosphorus affects the absorption of both these elements. An excess of either can interfere this process and cause production losses.<\/p>\n<p>Low dietary phosphorus during lay can lead to elevated incidence of cage layer fatigue, reduced bone ash, increased severity of osteoporosis, and diminished bone strength (<a href=\"#ref\">Webster, 2004<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>In addition to its function in bone, phosphorus also plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism, fat metabolism, and the regulation of the acid-base balance of the body (<a href=\"#ref\">Jacob et al., 2003<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0 20px 0 !important;'><\/div>\n<h4>Control and Prevention of Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency<\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"responsive\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7699\" style=\"width: 266px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/free-ranging-white-leg-horn-layers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7699\" class=\" wp-image-7699\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/free-ranging-white-leg-horn-layers-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"free ranging white leg horn layers\" width=\"256\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/free-ranging-white-leg-horn-layers-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/free-ranging-white-leg-horn-layers.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7699\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Encouraging \u00a0birds to do more exercise as in free ranging\u00a0systems will improve bone strength and minimise the risk of osteoporosis.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span>Generally, the calcium content of poultry feeds of plant origin is low. Prevention of deficiency requires the adequate dietary provision of calcium, but young birds <strong>should not<\/strong> be fed a high calcium layer diet as an <strong>excess of dietary calcium<\/strong> can tie up phosphorus making it unavailable, and may result in rickets. The balance between calcium and phosphorous is key. Excess calcium in the growing period can also result in kidney damage, visceral gout, calcium deposits in the ureter and mortality.<\/p>\n<p>If all feed for the birds is bought in, the feed mill will balance calcium and phosphorous in the ration. Farmers who mill and mix their own feed should be particularly careful to avoid causing deficiencies. There is a difference in requirement for calcium between laying hens and broilers with laying hens having a higher need for calcium of around 4g per day \u2013 equivalent to the weight of an average eggshell. Soluble limestone grit or oyster shell grit may be used to provide a source of calcium for laying hens (<a href=\"#ref\">Reid and Weber, 1976<\/a>). Calcium may also be provided in the form of mixed grit. Mixed grit contains soluble grit composed of limestone, oyster shell and other mollusc shells, and insoluble grit in the form of granite and flint. Particle size affects calcium availability with larger particles being retained for longer in the upper digestive tract and calcium being released more slowly. Oyster shell for example provides a slow release of calcium. This may be important for the continuity of shell formation (<a href=\"#ref\">Jacob et al., 2003<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Dolomitic limestone should not be fed to poultry as it contains at least 10% magnesium, and can interfere with calcium absorption creating a deficiency, as opposed to alleviating it.<\/p>\n<p>Breeding may be an effective way of combating osteoporosis. Some genetic lines may be more prone to osteoporosis than others (Bell and Siller, 1962 cited by (<a href=\"#ref\">Webster, 2004<\/a>)). A study was conducted which looked at the genetic <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"A measure of the contribution genetics makes to the determination of an observed characteristic \">heritability<\/a><\/span>\u00a0of bone index and strength in five generations of while leg horn end-of-lay hens. Some bone strength traits were been shown to be moderately to strongly <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"A measure of the contribution genetics makes to the determination of an observed characteristic \">heritable<\/a><\/span> (<a href=\"#ref\">Bishop et al., 2000<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Phosphorus in plant material is only partly available to the chicken, and for periods of the bird\u2019s development can become unavailable. For this reason, poultry feeds need supplementation with phosphorus (<a href=\"#ref\">Hopkins et al., 1987<\/a>). Microbial <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Enzymes involved in releasing usable forms of phosphate from grains and seeds\">phytases<\/a><\/span> can be used in reduced-P layer diets containing feeds with high levels of P bound up in the form of phytate e.g. rice bran (<a href=\"#ref\">Tangendjaja et al., 2002<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>An interaction between particle size and phosphorus concentration occurs when chicks are fed diets deficient in phosphorus. For example, whilst food efficiency increases with fine and pelleted corn\u00a0diets, calcium and phytate phosphorus retention are greatest with coarse corn\u00a0diets (<a href=\"#ref\">Kilburn and Edwards, 2001<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0 20px 0 !important;'><\/div>\n<h4>Treating Calcium\u00a0and Phosphorus Imbalances<\/h4>\n<p>Provided irreversible damage has not been done to bone structure, altering the calcium content of the diet should be effective. Expert nutritional advice should be sought regarding therapeutic inputs of calcium to deficient birds. Damaged bone structure may be improved by encouraging exercise, provided the diet has been improved.<\/p>\n<p>A calcium boost using water-soluble sources can help get the diet back into balance. Providing ad lib oyster shell will then allow hens to take what they need for maintenance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0 20px 0 !important;'><\/div>\n<h4>Osteoporosis and Welfare<\/h4>\n<p>The welfare implications that stem from osteoporosis or rickets caused by calcium, phosphorus and or vitamin D deficiency causing weakened or brittle bones lead to spontaneous fractures generating pain, debility and mortality (<a href=\"#ref\">Webster, 2004<\/a>). Selecting birds with low body weight and feed intake but high egg production has created birds with weakened bones. The amount of calcium and phosphorus deposited in the shell is high in relation to the body weight of the bird (<a href=\"#ref\">Whitehead and Fleming, 2000<\/a>). Husbandry systems that\u00a0allow birds to range freely, but free from hazards can be established to minimize welfare problems associated with osteoporosis. Allowing birds more exercise as in free range systems will improve bone strength (<a href=\"#ref\">Whitehead and Fleming, 2000<\/a>). Ensuring hens receive adequate calcium throughout their laying lives will maintain stronger bones and avoid breakages. For more information see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/health-welfare\/poultry\/outdoor-ranging\/\">Outdoor Ranging<\/a> in the Poultry Welfare section of this website.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0 20px 0 !important;'><\/div>\n<h4>\u00a0Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure that birds receive a supply of soluble and insoluble grit<\/li>\n<li>Care should be taken that the calcium component of feeds does not separate out and fall to the bottom of feed sacks and troughs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"ref\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"toggle\">\n<div class=\"toggle-title active\">Calcium and Phosphorus Deficiency References<span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggle-inner\">\n<div id=\"zotpress-f419f42210ca8e45e2508332f951c5b7\" class=\"zp-Zotpress zp-Zotpress-Bib wp-block-group\">\n\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_API_USER_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">254757<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ITEM_KEY\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_COLLECTION_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">VBP6IAQ8<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TAG_ID\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_AUTHOR\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_YEAR\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_ITEMTYPE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_ITEM_TYPE\" style=\"display: none;\">items<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_INCLUSIVE\" style=\"display: none;\">1<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_STYLE\" style=\"display: none;\">apa<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_LIMIT\" style=\"display: none;\">0<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SORTBY\" style=\"display: none;\">author<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ORDER\" style=\"display: none;\">asc<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TITLE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SHOWIMAGE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SHOWTAGS\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_DOWNLOADABLE\" style=\"display: none;\">1<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_NOTES\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ABSTRACT\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_CITEABLE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TARGET\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_URLWRAP\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_FORCENUM\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_HIGHLIGHT\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_POSTID\" style=\"display: none;\">7662<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZOTPRESS_PLUGIN_URL\" style=\"display:none;\">https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/zotpress\/<\/span>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"zp-List loading\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"zp-SEO-Content\">\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .zp-zp-SEO-Content -->\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .zp-List -->\n\t<\/div><!--.zp-Zotpress-->\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4478,"parent":1629,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7662"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7662"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11573,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7662\/revisions\/11573"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}