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Phosphorus is essential for skeletal development, energy metabolism and many cellular functions. Yet, poultry diets are still too often compared on total phosphorus, while feed phosphates are purchased mainly on price per ton. Neither measure describes what the bird actually receives.
Plant ingredients provide a substantial share of dietary phosphorus. Corn, soybean meal and cereal byproducts all contribute, although approximately two-thirds of phosphorus in plant materials is commonly associated with phytate. Poultry cannot use most phytate phosphorus without supplemental phytase.
