Dietary phosphorus supply, egg-shell deposition and plasma inorganic phosphorus in laying hens

1. In 2 experiments the effects of dietary phosphorus on relationships between plasma inorganic phosphorus concentration (Pi), shell and egg production and depletion states were measured in brown laying hens. 2. In a 12-week experiment dietary phosphorus concentrations from conventionally deficient (1.6 g non-phytate-phosphorus (PNP)/kg) to moderate excess (3.9 g PNP/kg) had little effect on egg and shell production, although there was evidence that plasma Pi concentration, when not influenced strongly by shell formation, reflected dietary phosphorus content. 3. Among birds at each dietary phosphorus concentration there was a negative linear relationship between shell weight of early eggs in the sequence and plasma Pi concentration. The relationship was apparently not affected by dietary phosphorus concentration. 4. Continued feeding of the deficient diet to 61 weeks of age did not have effects on body weight, egg and shell production, other than those associated with age, but plasma Pi and bone measurements indicated marginal phosphorus depletion. 5. In another experiment excessive dietary phosphorus (11.9 g PNP/kg) fed in a cross-over design caused small adverse effects on shell production, increased food intake and body weight and increased plasma Pi content, while there was no relationship between shell weight and plasma Pi concentration. 6. The results are consistent with an indirect effect of plasma phosphorus accumulation on shell formation, probably via an inhibitory effect on skeletal calcium release, in addition to any effect of excess dietary phosphorus on intestinal calcium availability. 7. Phosphorus requirement and status in the laying hen are complicated by the failure to recognise the contribution of digestible phytate-phosphorus to the available phosphorus supply.