Minerals
Limestone
Also known as: Calcium carbonate · Feed grade limestone
Calcium carbonate, 36–39% Ca. Primary calcium source for layer, breeder and ruminant diets.
Applications by species
broilerslayersbreedersswinedairy
Top global export origins
Turkey Egypt Vietnam India European Union
FeedMatch Group's RFQ Builder benchmarks landed costs across origins for your discharge port and shipment window.
Certifications & quality standards
GMP+ FAMI-QS
Buyer considerations
Advantages
- Very low cost
- Coarse and fine grades for layer shell quality
Constraints & risks
- Lead/cadmium risk from some quarries — insist on heavy-metal COAs
Frequently asked questions
What particle size should I use for layer diets?
Blend of coarse (2–5 mm) and fine (<1 mm) at ~50/50 for optimal shell strength.
How pure should feed-grade limestone be?
≥36% Ca, <10 ppm Pb, <2 ppm Cd, <500 ppm MgO. Reject Dolomitic sources for poultry.
Where do I source competitively?
Turkey, Egypt and Vietnam are top exporters. RFQ Builder benchmarks CIF.