Constraints on the modelling of calcium and phosphorus growth of broilers: a systematic review

SUMMARY

Deterministic modelling provides an approach to improve the precision of calcium and phosphorus nutrition of broilers. A systematic review of the literature was carried out to establish if data were available for the development of such a model. Two citation index sites were searched, using keywords chosen to return as many suitable studies as possible. The results were filtered to remove extraneous papers. The remaining studies were scrutinised for variables that would quantify the growth of calcium and phosphorus under ideal and non-ideal conditions. In over a thousand papers, few contained response variables that contributed to the development of a model. Serial slaughter with whole-body mineral analysis (two studies) and serial bone analysis for ash, calcium and phosphorus (eight studies) could provide the necessary measurements. A preliminary growth model was developed using these data, but further research will improve this model and offer insights into the way in which the broiler utilises calcium and phosphorus in its diet.

KEYWORDS:

• Calcium
• phosphorus
• broilers
• modelling
• growth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the DSM Nutritional Products.

Notes on contributors

F. Salisbury

Ms. F. Salisbury has a BScAgric and MScChemEng from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She is currently engaged in PhD studies at this institution. She managed the poultry research unit at the university’s research farm and has several years of teaching experience.

A.J. Cowieson

Prof. A.J. Cowieson read for his PhD at the University of Aberdeen, completing in 2001.  From 2001-2010, he worked for two major biotechnology businesses where his research focus was feed enzymes, ingredient quality and amino acid and mineral nutrition of poultry.  From 2010-2013 Prof. Cowieson was Associate Professor of Poultry Nutrition and Director of the Poultry Research Foundation within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, Australia.  Currently Prof. Cowieson is Corporate Science Fellow at DSM Nutritional Products.  He is also retained as Adjunct Professor of Animal Science at Purdue University in the United States.

R.M. Gous

Prof. R.M. Gous is an Emeritus Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He has more than 30 years’ experience of producing simulation models for poultry and pig nutrition and production. He has developed software for optimising feeds and feeding programs for broilers and pigs and has presented papers on this work in Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Belgium, the USA, the UK and elsewhere. Mechanistic modelling generates a constant source of interesting and unique research ideas, some of which may even be tested in silico prior to experimentation. With this approach, Prof. Gous has been engaged in cooperative research in pig and poultry production with a range of international partners in industry and academia.