Phosphorus and poultry nutrition

This chapter outlines dietary and management strategies aimed at reducing phosphorus (P) excretion and movement. Concerns for the environment and water quality have prompted greater scrutiny of poultry feeding and management practices. Since a major portion of poultry diets consists of plant seed derived ingredients, phytin P assumes considerable nutritional significance. Poultry manure is generally considered to be the most valuable animal manure with respect to its fertilizer value. The criteria for determining the P requirements of poultry have historically been related to bird performance and bone mineralization. Dietary strategies with birds to reduce total P and enhance P availability through the use of highly available P corn and dietary phytase have had mixed results from the few studies measuring their impact on field P levels. The management of P from poultry manure for environmental protection requires an accurate knowledge of the type of manure and its’ total and soluble P fractions.