A new molecule could improve phosphorus absorption in poultry diets, cutting feed costs by up to 80% for broiler and breeder operations and potentially eliminating inorganic phosphate requirements entirely for layer operations.
“Our molecule allows the sharp reduction in the demand for phosphate sources, be it meat and bone meal or dicalcium or monocalcium phosphate, with a reduction in the final cost of the feed,” said Luciano Andriguetto, Ph.D., professor, Universidade Federal do Paraná.
“At least 20% of all calcium and phosphorus of the diet is lost to the environment, meaning not just a loss from the feed, but also increasing the impact of poultry production.”
At the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit, Andriguetto will discuss the novel molecule and its potential uses.
The Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia, brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain.
Registration for this event is now open. Early bird savings are available until September 30th.
A new approach to phosphorus, calcium absorption
The molecule is a polyol of long-chain fatty acid that captures ionized calcium and phosphorus at low pH levels, which creates an organic mineral form that absorbs as efficiently as lipid droplets. This represents a fundamentally different approach to phosphorous and calcium absorption in poultry diets.
“With our molecule added to the diets of broilers, breeders and layers, all phosphorus in the diet becomes digestible. This is due to the fact that our molecule has an entirely different mode of action. It optimizes absorption of phosphate and calcium and also its retention in the organism, since it is a lipidic carrier of these ions,” Andriguetto added.
Current phosphorus absorption rates from most feed ingredients remain low, typically under 80% with significant variability. This inefficiency forces producers to rely heavily on expensive inorganic phosphates like dicalcium and monocalcium phosphate, or meat and bone meal sources that can carry pathogen risks and contribute to leg problems in broilers.
Beyond mineral absorption, the molecule functions as an emulsifier, boosting metabolizable energy by approximately 36 kcal/kg, providing additional nutritional and economic benefits.
Attend the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit
The Poultry Tech Summit will return as an in-person event on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. The Poultry Tech Summit brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
NEW in 2025, Poultry Tech Summit will be held in collaboration with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting held November 5, 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit is now open. For more information, go to www.poultrytechsummit.com.
