Composition of limestone for animal feeds in relation to the current national regulations

Abstract

Common feeds usually contain essential minerals but often in insufficient amounts or in suboptimal ratios. Beside basic feeds, animals require dietary mineral supplements in order to maintain good health and production, especially if kept in confinement permanently. Adequate mineral uptake together with food and water intake represents one of the basic requirements for successful animal production. Animal feeding practice uses numerous mineral supplements to provide calcium. Limestone (calcium carbonate) is the most widely used out of them all. The aim of this paper was to examine the variability in composition of limestone for animal feeds produced in B&H in relation to the current national Regulations on Animal Feed. Content of calcium (Ca) was determined in 71 samples of limestone, content of magnesium (Mg) in 56, and content of iron (Fe) in 29 samples. All samples originated from two B&H producers. Minerals Ca, Mg and Fe were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the composition of limestone for animal feeds varied widely in relation to the current Regulations on Animal Feed. Content of Ca ranged from 22,8% to 39,78%, and content of Mg from 0,13% to 12,28%.