Poultry mineral requirements

Poultry need at least 14 mineral elements (Table 3.4) and it is possible that other minerals may also be essential in the body. Under natural conditions it is likely that poultry can obtain part of their mineral requirements by ingesting pasture and pecking in the soil. However, these sources cannot be guaranteed to provide all of the requirements consistently. Therefore, poultry diets must be supplemented with minerals. 

Like all other animals, poultry require five components in their diet as a source of nutrients energy, protein, minerals, vitamins and water. A nutrient shortage or imbalance in relation to other nutrients will affect performance adversely. Poultry need a well-balanced and easily digested diet for optimal production of eggs and meat and are very sensitive to dietary quality because they grow quickly and make relatively little use of fibrous, bulky feeds such as lucerne hay or pasture, since they are non-ruminants (have a simple stomach compartment). 

Also, it has long been known that mineral nutrients are essential to the life and continued health of poultry and livestock. The latter often require supplementary P, Ca, and NaCl. Laying hens require a diet that is very high in Ca. Much progress has been made in recent years toward understanding the nutritional needs of poultry and livestock, particularly the role played by trace elements. 

Ullrey, D. E. (1966). Requirements, toxic levels and interrelationships of minerals for swine and poultry as related to dietary gossypol. Inactivation of gossypol with mineral salts. Proceedings of Proc. Conf, Nat. Cotton Prod. Assoc, New Orleans, LA. 

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