Which Lime Is Used in Animal Feed as a Calcium Supplement?
Which Lime Is Used in Animal Feed as a Calcium Supplement?
Calcium is one of the most essential minerals for livestock and poultry. It is required for strong bones, eggshell quality, milk production, muscle growth, and overall health. To meet this requirement, the most widely used and safest calcium source in animal feed is food-grade calcium carbonate, a purified natural limestone derivative.
This lime form is highly digestible, affordable, and approved for all animal feed formulations.
Keywords covered: animal feed lime, calcium carbonate for poultry, lime for cattle feed, feed-grade limestone, CaCO₃ supplement, dairy calcium source.
Which Lime Is Used in Animal Feed?
The lime used as a calcium supplement in animal feed is:
Food-Grade Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃)
— also called Feed-Grade Limestone or Animal Feed Lime.
It is used in:
Poultry feed (layer hens, broilers)
Cattle & buffalo feed
Goat and sheep feed
Fish feed
Pet food
Calf & growing livestock feed
How Calcium Carbonate Works in Animal Nutrition
Calcium carbonate provides a natural, easy-to-absorb calcium source. In poultry, it forms strong eggshells. In cattle, it supports milk production and bone health. In fish, it helps maintain pH and bone structure.
It is added into feed mixtures in powdered or granulated form.