What is dicalcium phosphate?
Dicalcium phosphate is the calcium salt of phosphoric acid in which two of the three acidic hydrogens are replaced. In industry, feed-grade DCP is usually produced by reacting purified phosphoric acid with a calcium source such as limestone or lime, or by treating phosphate rock or bone with acid, followed by purification and drying.
Commercial feed DCP may be mainly the dihydrate, mainly anhydrous, or a mixture, and it often contains some monocalcium phosphate. These differences affect phosphorus content and solubility, so the analysed specification of each product matters more than the name alone.
What does DCP do in animal feed?
- Phosphorus supply: phosphorus is needed for bone and eggshell formation, energy metabolism (ATP), cell membranes (phospholipids) and DNA. Much of the phosphorus in cereals and oilseed meals is bound as phytate and poorly available to pigs and poultry.
- Calcium supply: DCP also provides calcium, which must be kept in the correct ratio with phosphorus.
- Poultry: supports skeletal development and leg health in broilers and contributes to bone and shell quality in layers, alongside a separate calcium source.
- Pigs: supports growth, bone mineralisation and sow longevity.
- Ruminants: used in mineral feeds and concentrates where forage and grain do not cover the phosphorus requirement, for example in high-yielding dairy cows or on phosphorus-poor pastures.
Phosphate sources compared
- Dicalcium phosphate (DCP): moderate phosphorus content and relatively high calcium; widely used in poultry and pig feed.
- Monocalcium phosphate (MCP): higher phosphorus content and water solubility; generally regarded as having higher phosphorus digestibility.
- Mono-dicalcium phosphate (MDCP): a mixture with intermediate properties.
- Phytase enzymes: release part of the phytate phosphorus in plant raw materials and reduce, but do not always replace, the need for inorganic phosphates.
How is DCP inclusion assessed?
Nutritionists formulate phosphorus on an available or digestible phosphorus basis rather than on total phosphorus. The DCP level depends on the species, age and production stage, the phosphorus contributed by raw materials, whether phytase is used and the target calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Because feed phosphates differ in digestibility, the value assigned to a specific DCP should come from supplier data and the nutritionist's own matrix. Local regulations and the product label prevail.
Quality criteria
- Total phosphorus and calcium content, and solubility (for example in water, citric acid or neutral ammonium citrate) as an indicator of availability.
- Fluorine: phosphates made from rock phosphate must be adequately defluorinated, as excess fluorine is harmful to animals.
- Undesirable substances such as cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury, within the limits set by applicable feed legislation.
- Moisture, particle size and dust: affect mixing, flowability and handling.
- Certificate of analysis (CoA) and lot traceability, with consistent quality from batch to batch.
CTF Premix and dicalcium phosphate
DCP is normally added directly to compound feed at macro-mineral levels. On request, its inclusion in custom mineral or vitamin-mineral premixes and mineral supplements can be evaluated by our technical team according to the customer's formulation and the target species. CTF Premix products are produced in Ankara under ISO 9001:2015 and GMP, with a certificate of analysis and lot traceability for every batch.
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.