Calcium carbonate is a primary source of calcium in animal and poultry feed, essential for bone development, eggshell formation, and metabolic functions. It provides a cost-effective and highly bioavailable calcium source, especially for layers and dairy animals. In poultry, it plays a crucial role in improving eggshell strength and quality. It is widely used in feed formulations and mineral mixtures to maintain proper calcium balance, support growth, and enhance overall animal productivity and health.
Animal Feed
Why Calcium Carbonate is the preferred choice for animal feed formulations
Comprehensive range of Calcium Carbonate grades for diverse industrial applications
Finely ground calcium carbonate (100 mesh) for poultry and livestock feed, providing highly bioavailable calcium for eggshell formation, bone development, and metabolic functions in layer, broiler, and cattle feed formulations.
200-mesh calcium carbonate for feed applications requiring finer particle size for improved dissolution rate and bioavailability, particularly in premix and mineral supplement formulations for poultry and dairy animals.
Common questions about Calcium Carbonate in animal feed applications
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Calcium carbonate contains approximately 38–40% elemental calcium — the highest of any common feed-grade calcium source. It is more concentrated than oyster shell flour (~35% Ca) and dicalcium phosphate (~23% Ca), making it the most efficient and cost-effective calcium source per unit weight.
In laying hens, a mixture of fine (100 mesh) and coarse (2–4mm) calcium carbonate is often preferred. Fine particles dissolve rapidly for immediate calcium supply, while coarser particles dissolve slowly overnight when hens form eggshells, providing sustained calcium availability aligned with the eggshell formation cycle.
Layer diets require 3.5–4.5% total calcium to support daily eggshell formation (each egg requires ~2g calcium). Calcium carbonate is the primary source, typically contributing 8–12% of the diet by weight to provide the required elemental calcium.
Calcium carbonate can reduce absorption of zinc, manganese, and iron if present in excess due to competition for absorption sites. Balanced calcium supplementation within recommended ranges minimises this antagonism. Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (typically 2:1) must also be maintained for optimal mineral utilisation.
Yes. Calcium carbonate is used in aquaculture feed as a calcium supplement. Fish absorb calcium from both feed and surrounding water, so supplementation level depends on water hardness and calcium availability in the specific aquaculture system.
Feed-grade calcium carbonate must meet purity requirements including minimum CaCO₃ content (>95%), controlled heavy metal levels (particularly lead and arsenic), consistent particle size distribution, and absence of harmful microbial contamination. Compliance with feed additive regulations is essential.
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Calcium Carbonate serves as a critical input across diverse industrial applications
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