Feed Grade Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate Standard

Calcium phosphate, as one of the most common phosphate feed additives, has stable calcium and phosphorus content, high absorption and utilization rate in animals, and is easy to use. It is widely used in cattle, sheep, poultry, aquatic animals and other animals.

However, both feed producers and buyers know that dicalcium phosphate on the market needs to be identified and certified by professionals to determine whether it meets the corresponding feed-grade quality standards and whether key indicators such as calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, moisture, and heavy metals are stable. The quality of dicalcium phosphate directly affects animal health, production performance, and the safety and health of end-product livestock products.

Therefore, choosing high-quality, compliant dicalcium phosphate for animal feed is crucial for buyers. This article will provide suggestions and references for global businesses that need to purchase dicalcium phosphate, from the perspectives of its definition and quality standards.

1. What is Feed-Grade Dicalcium Phosphate?

Dicalcium phosphate, commonly abbreviated as DCP, is often referred to as anhydrous or dihydrate calcium phosphate. It is a white or off-white powder or granular solid. Its primary source is phosphate rock, extracted through a series of chemical reactions.

Physical properties: High-quality dicalcium phosphate (DCP) from reputable suppliers offers good flowability, uniform particle size, and low hygroscopicity. Good flowability facilitates feed compounding, while uneven particle size can lead to dust generation or segregation during processing and can also affect the digestibility and absorption rate in animals.

Chemical properties: Feed-grade dicalcium phosphate is a weakly acidic salt, slightly soluble in water, and readily soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute nitric acid, and citric acid solutions . This characteristic allows monogastric animals, such as pigs and poultry, to rapidly absorb calcium and phosphorus, resulting in extremely high biological availability.

2. Why Do Feed-Grade Dicalcium Phosphate Require Clearly Defined Quality Standards?

Quality makes it impossible to regulate market order, ensure animal feed safety, and guarantee animal production performance. Therefore, for buyers of dicalcium phosphate, the most important factor is the stability of the product's quality, followed by the best price.

2.1 Mainstream Quality Standard Systems in the Market

The earlier Chinese standard GB/T 22549-2008 and the currently implemented Chinese standard GB 22549-2017 will gradually fade from public view, and the latest Chinese standard GB 7300.313-2025 will be implemented, effective from January 1, 2027.

Chinese standard GB 7300.313-2025 covers:

It is produced by chemical synthesis from wet-process phosphoric acid and calcium-containing compounds.

Feed-grade dicalcium phosphate is produced by hydrolysis of calcium phytate.

This represents a significant change in the production processes and product coverage of future Chinese DCP suppliers .

GB 22549—2017 and its successor GB 7300.313—2025 both specify product requirements from three aspects: appearance, physicochemical indicators, and hygiene indicators. The nutritional physicochemical indicators are set differently according to the model, as shown in the table below:

Besides China's implementation standards, the mainstream standards in the market also include those from the United States and the European Union.

US AAFCO Standard for Feed-Grade Dicalcium Phosphate has strict regulations on minimum phosphorus (P) , calcium (Ca) , and maximum fluorine (F) . It stipulates that the fluorine content must not exceed 1% of the phosphorus content, meaning F ≤ 1/100 * P. For example, if a product has P = 18%, theoretically, the F cannot exceed approximately 0.18%, or 1800 mg/kg. This is clearly consistent with the current Chinese standard GB 22549-2017 , which stipulates F ≤ 1800 mg/kg .

The EU 's regulatory logic for DCP differs from that of China and the US . The key indicators required by the EU for declaration include :

Calcium

Total phosphorus ,

P is insoluble in 2% citric acid (when P > 10%) .

Ash is insoluble in HCl (when >5%), while P is insoluble in 2% citric acid (when P >10%) .

However, phosphates in feed are a special case. For pollutants in DCP, the limits are F ≤ 2,000 mg/kg , Cd ≤ 10 mg/kg , Pb ≤ 15 mg/kg , Hg ≤ 0.1 mg/kg , and As needs to be determined based on the specific feed ingredients or category regulations .

The table below directly compares the core standards of China, the United States, and the European Union:

The table clearly shows that China places greater emphasis on product grade, with Chinese dicalcium phosphate suppliers frequently exhibiting COAs of: P ≥ 18% , Ca ≥ 20% , and Citrate-soluble P ≥ 16% . The EU, on the other hand, places greater emphasis on feed material, favoring Minimum P , Minimum Ca , Maximum F , and Contaminant limits .

2.2 Active Ingredient of Dicalcium Phosphate

Phosphorus content: Phosphorus is involved in the formation of animal bones and teeth, and plays a key role in ATP synthesis, nucleic acid metabolism, and cell membrane phospholipid structure.

Citric acid-soluble phosphorus: A high total phosphorus content does not necessarily mean that animals can absorb and utilize it all. It's necessary to consider whether citric acid-soluble phosphorus accounts for more than 95% of the total phosphorus. Citric acid-soluble phosphorus is more easily absorbed.

Ca (calcium) content: The calcium content is generally specified to be between 20.0% - 26.0%, and the calcium to phosphorus ratio is usually maintained at around 1.2:1 to 1.4:1. Excess or deficiency of calcium can easily lead to calcium-phosphorus antagonism. A suitable calcium-phosphorus ratio can effectively avoid this phenomenon.

Moisture content: The moisture content of DCP should be controlled within 2.0% - 5.0%. Excessive moisture content will cause the product to clump, and during transportation and storage, the active ingredients may be lost or other microorganisms may multiply, ultimately reducing the product's flowability and affecting its effectiveness.

2.3 Heavy Metal Hazards

The COA (Copyright Accountant) clearly stipulates limits for toxic and harmful indicators such as fluorine, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium in 18.5% dicalcium phosphate feed additives. Fluorine is extremely harmful to animal bone and teeth. Excessive arsenic accumulation in the animal body can easily induce cancer and produce metabolic toxins. Lead is significantly toxic to the animal's nervous and hematopoietic systems. Chromium can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and bones of animals.

Therefore, there are strict regulations on heavy metal residues in DCP to prevent animals from ingesting too much, resulting in residual pollutants in their body tissues, and ultimately affecting human food safety issues in terms of product quality.

3. COA, TDS, and SDS: What Should You Look for When Purchasing DCP?

As a feed additive supplier, Polifar supplies tens of thousands of tons of dicalcium phosphate annually, and we often encounter buyers asking us for the COA, TDS, and SDS of DCP products.

DCP COA (Certificate of Analysis ) is a batch testing report for products purchased by customers . Buyers typically focus on indicators such as batch number, production date, calcium content, phosphorus content, fluoride content, moisture content, and testing date. The test results are used to determine whether the batch of goods meets quality requirements.

DCP TDS: Technical Data Sheet . This sheet typically contains information such as the product's standard specifications, typical indicators, application scope, and packaging.

DCP SDS : Safety Data Sheet . It primarily assists international buyers in managing import, warehousing, and production safety . Established suppliers can provide these fundamental technical documents promptly according to customer needs.

4. How to Avoid Buying Substandard DCP?

Common DCP adulteration methods include mixing natural phosphate rock powder into the product without any defluorination treatment. This results in excessive fluoride levels, and the phosphorus is difficult to digest and absorb. Alternatively, calcium carbonate or other calcium powder may be added, disrupting the overall calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of the DCP. Industrial-grade or fertilizer-grade phosphates may also be added, leading to excessive levels of heavy metals and fluoride.

These purchases represent a significant economic loss for the buyers, not only harming animal health but also having a substantial impact on the farm's future economic prospects. Furthermore, these transactions require professional evaluation, which is time-consuming, energy-intensive, and costly for the buyers.

The best approach is to find several reliable suppliers in the market to form your high-quality supply chain and establish long-term, stable partnerships. It's crucial to choose suppliers with well-known brand endorsements or those already possessing significant brand recognition and extensive import/export experience. For example, the Polifar team would be an excellent choice.

5. Dicalcium Phosphate Anhydrous Uses

18.5% DCP is commonly found in poultry feed additives, pig feed additives, and aquatic and ruminant feed additives, and is one of the most common feed additives.

In broiler and layer chicken farming, dicalcium phosphate plays a significant role in supplementing the nutritional needs of layer chickens. Sufficient calcium and phosphorus nutrition effectively contributes to high egg production rates, reduces broken egg rates, and supports peak egg production. The broiler market demands that broilers complete their entire growth cycle quickly within a short period; to prevent poor bone development in broilers, adequate calcium and phosphorus supplementation can mitigate this problem.

Pigs are also one of the most common animals raised by farmers. The calcium and phosphorus requirements of pigs vary at different growth stages. Weaned piglets have immature digestive systems , and high-quality feed-grade dicalcium phosphate can promote healthy bone growth and reduce diarrhea caused by indigestion. For sows during pregnancy and lactation, adequate phosphorus and calcium supplementation can reduce the incidence of limb and hoof diseases and increase litter size and milk quality.

Dairy cows have extremely high phosphorus requirements during peak lactation; pay attention to changes in feed formulation during this period. Aquatic animals, especially shelled animals such as shrimp and crabs, need phosphorus and calcium supplementation to ensure shell hardening and growth.

6. Storage Requirements for Dicalcium Phosphate

Dicalcium phosphate needs to be stored in a dry, well-ventilated, moisture-proof, and light-protected environment. During transportation and handling, care must be taken to prevent damage to the packaging that could contaminate the internal product. This storage and handling should be carried out according to the requirements in the supplier's SDS (Storage Specification). Moisture-proofing measures must be taken during transportation.

FAQ

Q1: Dicalcium Phosphate Is It Safe?

A1: Food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, or feed-grade dicalcium phosphate is safe, non-toxic, and has high bioavailability when used properly. Only substandard industrial-grade products containing excessive fluorine or heavy metals are harmful to health.

Q2: Difference Between Dicalcium Phosphate and Monocalcium Phosphate?

A2: The key difference lies in water solubility and absorption conditions. Calcium hydrogen phosphate is slightly soluble in water and mainly relies on acidic environments such as gastric acid to dissolve and release calcium and phosphorus ions; while calcium dihydrogen phosphate is extremely soluble in water, is acidic, and can be quickly dissolved and absorbed without relying on strong gastric acid. Therefore, its bioavailability is usually higher, making it more suitable for individuals with insufficient gastric acid secretion or young animals.

Q3: Is Dicalcium Phosphate Natural?

A3: It is not a directly mined natural mineral, but an artificial product synthesized by chemically processing phosphoric acid from natural phosphate rock and then reacting it with a calcium source (such as limestone or calcium hydroxide).

Q4: Dicalcium Phosphate Where to Buy ?

A4: There are tens of thousands of dicalcium phosphate suppliers worldwide, and you can find high-quality suppliers through Google searches, Amazon, and other platforms. Polifar has decades of experience in the industry and can help you with one-stop procurement of dicalcium phosphate and other feed additives, helping you avoid many potential problems during the procurement process and ensuring worry-free purchasing!

Q5: What Are The Side Effects of Dicalcium Phosphate?

A5: There are generally no side effects within normal dosage and dietary supplementation ranges. High doses or overdoses may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort (such as constipation, nausea, bloating), and long-term extreme overdoses may increase the risk of kidney stones in animals .

Conclusion

The standards for dicalcium phosphate will continue to improve with technological advancements, continuously enhancing animal health and human food safety. Polifar will always remain at the forefront of the industry, providing global livestock farmers with the highest quality feed-grade 18.5% dicalcium phosphate and the most reliable service. If you require other feed additives, please contact us online!