What is calcium D-pantothenate?
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is a water-soluble B vitamin. The free acid is an unstable, hygroscopic oil, so the vitamin is produced and traded as its calcium salt, calcium D-pantothenate: a white, fairly stable powder that is easy to mix into premixes.
Only the D-isomer has vitamin activity. Calcium D-pantothenate supplies roughly 92% of its weight as pantothenic acid, while racemic calcium DL-pantothenate provides about half the activity of the pure D-form. This must be taken into account when products are compared or converted in formulation.
What does it do in animal feed?
- Metabolism: pantothenic acid is part of coenzyme A, which is required for the citric acid cycle, fatty acid synthesis and breakdown, and the synthesis of cholesterol and steroid hormones.
- Poultry: supports growth, feathering and skin integrity. Typical deficiency signs in chicks include poor feathering and crusty lesions at the corners of the beak and on the feet; hatchability can also be affected in breeders.
- Pigs: needed for growth, reproduction and nerve function. A classic deficiency sign is an abnormal, high-stepping gait ("goose-stepping"), along with poor growth and diarrhoea.
- Ruminants: rumen microbes synthesise pantothenic acid, so routine supplementation is usually not needed in adult animals; young calves rely on dietary sources.
Forms and sources
Pantothenic acid occurs widely in feed raw materials, but levels in corn and some other cereals are relatively low, and part of the vitamin may be lost during processing and storage. Corn-soy diets for poultry and pigs are therefore normally supplemented.
- Calcium D-pantothenate: the standard feed form, produced by chemical synthesis and resolution or by fermentation-based processes.
- Calcium DL-pantothenate: racemic form; only the D-part is active.
- Diluted or adsorbate forms on a carrier for easier handling in small-scale mixing.
How is the inclusion level assessed?
The supplement level is set from the requirement of the species, age and production stage, taking into account the pantothenic acid content of the main raw materials and expected losses during pelleting and storage. Levels in formulations are usually expressed as pantothenic acid or as calcium D-pantothenate, so the basis must be checked before comparing specifications. Local regulations and the product label prevail.
Quality criteria
- Assay of calcium D-pantothenate and calcium content.
- Specific optical rotation, which confirms the D-isomer (the active form).
- Loss on drying: the product is somewhat hygroscopic, so moisture control and tight packaging matter.
- Heavy metals and other impurities.
- Certificate of analysis (CoA) and lot traceability.
CTF Premix and calcium D-pantothenate
Calcium D-pantothenate can be included in CTF Premix's vitamin premixes, vitamin-mineral premixes and custom premixes according to the customer's formulation, together with the other B vitamins and trace minerals. Production takes place at our Ankara facility under ISO 9001:2015 and GMP, and every lot comes with a certificate of analysis and lot traceability.
This page is for general information. Inclusion rates and product choice should be decided with a nutritionist, taking into account the species, the feed formulation and the applicable regulations.