Limestone for Animal Feed – Essential Benefits and Applications in Livestock Nutrition

Day 05/03/2025

1. What is Limestone for Animal Feed?

Limestone is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock, primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). While limestone is widely known for its applications in construction and industry, it also plays a crucial role in animal feed production. By incorporating limestone into feed mixtures, farmers can provide essential nutrients to livestock such as poultry, cows, and pigs, supporting healthy growth and improving productivity.

2. Why is Limestone Important in Animal Feed?

A Vital Source of Calcium for Livestock

Calcium is an essential mineral for all livestock species. In poultry, calcium directly impacts eggshell quality. In cows and pigs, calcium supports bone development, muscle function, and overall health. Adding high-quality limestone to animal feed ensures livestock receive adequate calcium, helping to prevent deficiencies and related health issues.

Supports Digestive Health

Limestone also acts as a natural pH regulator in the animal’s digestive system. By maintaining balanced pH levels, it enhances nutrient absorption and promotes efficient digestion, contributing to better feed conversion rates and improved animal performance.

3. Benefits of Limestone for feed

To ensure effectiveness and safety, limestone used in animal feed must meet strict quality standards:

  • High Calcium Carbonate Content: Ideally, the limestone should contain at least 95% calcium carbonate to deliver optimal calcium supplementation.
  • Finely Ground Particle Size: The particle size directly affects how efficiently the limestone is digested and absorbed. Finely ground limestone ensures uniform mixing in feed and better bioavailability for livestock.

3.1 Enhances Livestock Growth and Development

Supplementing feed with limestone directly supports:

  • Stronger bones and skeletal structure.
  • Increased milk production in dairy cows.
  • Higher egg production in poultry.
  • Faster weight gain in pigs and other livestock.

3.2 Prevents Metabolic Disorders

Limestone helps prevent calcium deficiencies that can lead to metabolic disorders, such as milk fever in dairy cows, ensuring the health and welfare of the animals.

3.3 Supporting Sustainable Agriculture

Reduces Dependence on Chemical Additives and enhances Soil Quality

By providing a natural source of calcium, limestone reduces the need for synthetic mineral supplements in animal feed. This lowers production costs and helps farmers adopt more sustainable feeding practices.

Limestone’s benefits extend beyond livestock nutrition. When used in manure management, limestone can act as a natural soil conditioner, neutralizing soil acidity and improving soil fertility. This dual functionality supports more sustainable crop production and healthier pastures.

SHC GROUP, established in 2013, is a well-established name in Vietnam’s mineral industry, known for manufacturing and exporting Limestone, Quicklime, Hydrated Lime, Dolomite, Calcium Carbonate, Pebble Stone, Slab & Tile to global markets.

Viet Nam Technology Minerals Joint Stock Company (TECHMICOM), founded in 2019, is a key subsidiary of SHC GROUP, specializing in the export of high-quality mineral products. TECHMICOM focuses on providing Limestone, Dolomite, Kaolin, and other processed minerals with consistent quality and stable supply to customers worldwide.

With a growing presence across America, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Australia, India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Singapore, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Indonesia, TECHMICOM is committed to excellence in product quality, logistics efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

📩 Get a Quote Now!

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VIET NAM TECHNOLOGY MINERALS JSC – SHC GROUP

Ms. Jade Vu – International Sales Executive
WhatsApp: +84 90235 9898
Email: export6@shcgroup.vn