Effect of dietary calcium and vitamin D3 on calcium and phosphorus retention in white pekin ducklings

Higher concentrations of Ca in the diet may decrease phytate-phosphorus hydrolysis because of chelation of Ca with the phytin molecule. In experiment 1, drakes were fed 0.74, 0.85, 0.95, or 1.11% Ca (analyzed) from 7 to 18 d of age (6 birds/cage, 8 cages/diet). Intestinal mucosa was collected at 18 d of age from birds fed 0.74 and 1.11% Ca for determination of intestinal phytase activity. In experiment 1, 17 d BW gain and feed consumption exhibited a quadratic response to increasing concentrations of Ca and were found to be maximal for ducks fed the 0.95% Ca diet. Toe ash percentage (18 d) had a quadratic response to increasing concentrations of Ca with a maximal response for birds fed the 0.85% Ca diet. Increasing dietary Ca did not affect P retention from 15 to 17 d of age or intestinal phytase activity and brush border vesicle Ca concentration. A positive correlation was found between the Vmax and the Ca concentration within the vesicles (r = 0.59, P < 0.02), suggesting that the vesicle Ca concentration did not negatively affect the kinetics of the phytase assay. In experiment 2, drakes were fed 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, or 1.2% Ca (formulated) with 826 or 8,260 ICU/kg of vitamin D-3 from 0 to 13 d of age. There was no response to increasing concentrations of Ca for performance characteristics or bone ash measurements.