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| HS Code | 789849 |
| Product Name | Feed Grade Calcium Lactate |
| Chemical Formula | Ca(C3H5O3)2·5H2O |
| Molecular Weight | 308.30 g/mol |
| Cas Number | 5743-47-5 (pentahydrate); 814-80-2 (anhydrous) |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or free-flowing granules |
| Odor | Slight characteristic odor |
| Solubility | Soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol |
| Calcium Content | 12.0% - 13.2% |
| Lactate Content | 58.0% - 62.0% (as C3H5O3) |
| Ph Of 5 Percent Solution | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| Loss On Drying | 22.0% - 30.0% |
| Heavy Metals As Pb | ≤ 0.001% (10 ppm) |
| Arsenic As As | ≤ 0.0003% (3 ppm) |
| Lead As Pb | ≤ 0.0005% (5 ppm) |
| Microbial Total Count | ≤ 1000 cfu/g |
| Pathogenic Bacteria | Negative (Salmonella/E. coli per specification) |
As an accredited Feed Grade Calcium Lactate factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Feed Grade Calcium Lactate is packaged in 25 kg multi-layer paper bags with inner liner, ensuring dry, safe storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading of Feed Grade Calcium Lactate in sealed pallets/bags, stacked securely for safe, dry transport. |
| Shipping | Feed Grade Calcium Lactate ships as a stable, non-hazardous powder in moisture-proof bags or drums. Ensure dry, ventilated conditions to prevent caking, and avoid contamination. Standard freight works; keep away from direct heat and incompatible materials. Proper labeling confirms feed-grade compliance for animal nutrition. |
| Storage | Store Feed Grade Calcium Lactate in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep the original container tightly closed when not in use to prevent caking and contamination. Avoid contact with strong acids or oxidizers. Maintain proper labeling and follow feed safety regulations to preserve quality and shelf life. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 24 months when stored unopened in a cool, dry place away from moisture and direct sunlight. |
In commercial layer and breeder operations, feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate is handled as a defined calcium carrier rather than a direct limestone substitute. The pentahydrate supplies 13.00% calcium by mass; this yields an inclusion-equivalence of 7.69 kg/t for every additional 0.10% calcium in a 1,000 kg feed batch. Compliance in this segment is derived from Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 Annex III general conditions for feed additives, analytical verification of calcium by ISO 6490-1:1985, feed-safety management under ISO 22000:2018 clause 8.5.1, and contaminant limits referenced in Directive 2002/32/EC. The commercially defensible addition window is 3.85–11.54 kg/t, supplying 0.05–0.15% calcium from the lactate fraction; the total calcium target in peak-cycle layer rations remains 3.80–4.20% and is supplied primarily by calcium carbonate. Production handling begins with a 1:10 pre-blend of calcium lactate and ground limestone in a ribbon mixer to prevent segregation, followed by twin-shaft paddle mixing to a coefficient of variation below 5%. Conditioning at 70–85 °C and pelleting through a 3.5–4.5 mm die do not require special barrel modifications at these inclusion rates, but the high-solubility lactate fraction is not used as the sole calcium source because retained particulate calcium carbonate is required for shell calcification during the dark period. Finished product types include layer mash, crumbled pullet feed, breeder pellet concentrates, and post-moult recovery rations.
| Calcium carrier | Calcium mass fraction | Kilograms per tonne to supply 0.10% Ca | Analytical reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium lactate pentahydrate | 13.00% | 7.69 kg/t | ISO 6490-1:1985 |
| Calcium lactate anhydrous | 18.37% | 5.44 kg/t | ISO 6490-1:1985 |
| Calcium carbonate | 40.04% | 2.50 kg/t | ISO 6490-1:1985 |
The replacement calculation in the table is based on molar-mass values and should be overridden by lot-specific certificate of assay before batching. Feed-mill experience shows that at relative humidity above 60%, opened stocks of the pentahydrate can develop free moisture and bridge in micro-ingredient screw feeders; dehumidified staging rooms and lined paper bags with polyethylene inner liners are standard controls. The lactate is not premixed with acidified liquid binders because localized acidic conditions can produce sticky deposits on mixer surfaces. Published data for complete substitution of calcium carbonate with calcium lactate in multi-cycle breeder flocks are limited; the formulator should therefore retain calcium carbonate as the major calcium source and reposition calcium lactate as a fast-release fraction for low-feed-intake periods.
Pelleted nursery diets present a conflict between low gastric acid secretion in weaned pigs and the high acid-binding capacity of calcium carbonate. Feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate is selected for its lower gastric pH impact, but the formulator must account for its 13.00% calcium mass fraction and the physical space it occupies in a tight prestarter formulation. Registration compliance includes Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 for the EU market, AAFCO Official Publication 2025 for North American ingredient definitions, FDA 21 CFR 184.1207 for the lactate salt, and FAMI-QS certification for specialty feed ingredient handling. The addition window is 2.31–4.62 kg/t, corresponding to 0.03–0.06% calcium from this source; higher inclusion rates are normally constrained by cost and mineral matrix changes rather than by feed law. Because the addition rate is low, the product is introduced as a 1:10 micro-ingredient pre-blend with ground limestone or rice hulls and mixed in a horizontal ribbon mixer for 180–240 s before conditioning at 60–70 °C. Pellet die selection at 2.0–2.5 mm followed by crumble rolls produces the desired textural class. Acid-binding capacity is checked in production by titration with 0.1 N HCl to pH 4.0; at this pH endpoint, the lactate source contributes less buffering load than an equivalent calcium unit from limestone, but published data for this specific configuration are limited. Finished products include 2.0 mm pre-starter pellets, crumbled weaner feed, milk-gruel mixes, and creep-feed concentrates for segregated early-weaning units.
Batch-to-batch variation in oral calcium gel viscosity is a known manufacturing risk when a fully soluble calcium salt is used, and feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate is selected for precisely that dissolution behavior. A 500 mL oral gel formulated to deliver 45 g total calcium would require 346 g of the pentahydrate if it were the only calcium source; commercial dosing programmes more commonly assign 10–20 g calcium to the lactate fraction, corresponding to 77–154 g product per dose. Compliance is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 for complementary feed additives, GMP+ FSA feed-safety assurance, and FDA 21 CFR 184.1207 where the product crosses into oral supplement manufacturing. The production process uses high-shear mixing at 20–25 °C, followed by vacuum deaeration to remove entrained air that otherwise causes syringe fill-weight variance. Filling is conducted below 40% RH to prevent surface moisture gain, and every incoming lot is assayed for calcium by ISO 6869:2000 before batch-record calculation. The critical control point is not gross fill weight but calcium per filled tube; because the pentahydrate can gain or lose loosely bound moisture during storage, weight-based batching without lot-specific assay correction can shift the delivered dose. Mixing temperatures above 25 °C are avoided because they reduce gel viscosity and can promote lactic acid release when combined with acidic preservatives, leading to container swelling in non-vented cartons. Terminal product types include 400–500 mL oral dosing tubes, 75–100 g compressed calcium boluses produced on a rotary tablet press, and paste syringes for veterinary-channel distribution.
Where low-alkalinity water and high stocking density coincide, extruded fish and shrimp feeds are adjusted with a soluble mineral fraction to compensate for the calcium deficit in recirculated water. The regulatory framework includes Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 for feed additives, EC 767/2009 for compound feed composition and marketing, Codex Alimentarius CAC/RCP 54-2004 for good animal feeding, and ISO 6869:2000 for mineral verification. A calcium contribution of 0.05–0.15% from feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate corresponds to 3.85–11.54 kg/t. The production line is extrusion-based: the mineral pre-blend is milled through a 0.150 mm screen and added before the conditioning barrel; twin-screw extrusion at 120–140 °C and 25–30% moisture gelatinizes the matrix, after which the pellets are dried to 8–10% moisture. Because the lactate is water-soluble, unprotected particles lose more calcium to immersion water than calcium carbonate-based reference feeds; this leaching limitation restricts its use to matrix-bound or coated feed structures. Slow-sinking shrimp pellets vacuum-coated with fish oil and larval feeds with microencapsulated mineral fractions retain the lactate better than uncoated extruded controls. Published leaching data for this specific additive configuration in commercial pond trials are limited; mortality and shell-quality outcomes must be verified through on-farm testing. Terminal product types include fry microcapsules, slow-sinking shrimp pellets, floating tilapia extrudates, and hatchery mineral premixes.
Because milk replacer powders are blended at low shear and reconstituted before feeding, insoluble limestone can settle in nipple feeding systems and create uneven calcium delivery. Feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate dissolves into the liquid phase and eliminates this settling failure mode, but the formulator must rebalance the dry mix to account for the 13.00% calcium mass fraction. Assignment of 0.10–0.20% calcium from the lactate fraction requires 7.69–15.38 kg/t of the pentahydrate in the dry powder. Compliance includes Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Codex Alimentarius CAC/RCP 54-2004, and GMP+ FSA-certified carriers for young animal feed. The production sequence is a vertical cone screw or ploughshare mixer at 40–60 rpm for 120–180 s; the calcium lactate is pre-blended at 1:10 with dried whey permeate to reduce static adhesion to stainless steel vessel walls. Packing is performed in multi-walled paper bags with polyethylene liners at below 25 °C and below 60% RH; open staging time is limited because the pentahydrate can cake and then flow poorly through loss-in-weight feeders. Reconstitution testing is run at 45–55 °C with low-speed agitation for 30–60 s and is checked for visible sediment after 2 min standing. Terminal product types include spray-dried whey-based milk replacer powder, skim-milk extended calf starter blends, and liquid mixing-tank concentrates for automated feeder installations.
Pet food manufacturers handling feed-grade calcium lactate pentahydrate in dental chew and mobility tablet lines must manage both its fine particle-size distribution and its moisture response during wet granulation. Compliance is driven by AAFCO Official Publication 2025 ingredient definitions, FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2024 life-stage calcium maxima, FDA 21 CFR 184.1207 for the lactate salt, and ISO 6490-1:1985 for in-process calcium assay. The addition ratio is set by the intended complete-feed calcium contribution: 0.10–0.30% calcium from this source corresponds to 7.69–23.08 kg/t. In compressed dental tablet production, the lactate is wet-granulated with microcrystalline cellulose and dried to 2–3% moisture before rotary-tablet compression. In dental-chew extrusion, the powder is pre-blended at 1:10 with rice protein or wheat flour and introduced into a twin-screw extruder at 80–95 °C barrel temperatures; post-extrusion moisture is reduced to below 12% to prevent stickiness and mould growth. The operational boundary is humidity: above 60% RH, the pentahydrate can agglomerate and blind the 0.500 mm screener, so dehumidified storage and lined intermediate bulk containers are required. Terminal product types include compressed dental tablets, extruded dental chews, mobility soft chews, and complete dry dog food formulations.
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Feed-grade calcium lactate is an odorless white to off-white crystalline powder or granular material with the general formula Ca(C3H5O3)2·nH2O. In feed and food trade the pentahydrate form, CAS 5743-47-5, is the dominant commercial hydrate; the anhydrous form, CAS 814-80-2, is supplied less often because its hygroscopic behavior requires sealed packaging and low-humidity transfer. The product is not differentiated by discrete model numbers but by hydrate form, sieve cut, and packaging class. Common commercial forms are fine powder with 95% through 100 mesh, granular material with 95% through 40 mesh, and direct-compaction grades used in mineral boluses. Standard packaging includes 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with a polyethylene liner and 500 kg flexible intermediate bulk containers. Feed-grade certificates commonly reference the FCC calcium lactate monograph, FDA 21 CFR 184.1207 for related food- or feed-shipment prior sanction, and GB 34469-2017 for shipments cleared under Chinese feed additive requirements.
Representative limits for the pentahydrate feed-grade product are shown below. These values are not a single regulatory specification; they reflect commercial certificate-of-analysis ranges used in cross-border feed shipments. The theoretical calcium content of the pentahydrate is 40.08/308.3 = 13.0%; the anhydrous material has 18.4% calcium. This distinction is critical because a certificate that states only calcium lactate without the hydrate form can create a dosing error of 5.4 percentage points if the anhydrous value is applied to a hydrated lot.
| Parameter | Unit | Specification | Analytical method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium lactate assay, dried basis, as C6H10CaO6·5H2O | % | 98.0–101.0 | Complexometric titration with EDTA |
| Calcium content, as-fed pentahydrate | % | 13.0–14.0 | ISO 6869:2000 atomic absorption |
| Calcium content, calculated anhydrous basis | % | 18.0–18.5 | Stoichiometric calculation |
| Loss on drying, pentahydrate | % | 22.0–27.0 | Vacuum oven at 70 °C to constant mass |
| pH, 1:20 aqueous solution | — | 6.0–8.0 | Potentiometric pH meter |
| Lead, as Pb | mg/kg | ≤1 mg/kg | ICP-MS after microwave digestion |
| Arsenic, as As | mg/kg | ≤3 mg/kg | Hydride generation AAS |
| Fluoride, as F | mg/kg | ≤30 mg/kg | Ion-selective electrode |
| Heavy metals, as Pb | mg/kg | ≤20 mg/kg | Sulfide colorimetric |
| Sieve residue, granular grade | % | ≥95% through 40 mesh | Dry sieving |
On a 1,000 L twin-ribbon batch mixer, fine calcium lactate pentahydrate added at 15 kg/t to a piglet prestarter premix has been observed to segregate when the limestone carrier contained particles above 1.2 mm. The corrective pre-blend of calcium lactate with an equal mass of ground limestone before the main mixing step reduced calcium assay relative standard deviation from 2.8% to 1.1% in finished premix samples. This segregation is not due to the lactate molecule but to the density difference between the fine hydrate and coarse mineral carriers. Automatic microdosing systems require free-flowing material; when ambient relative humidity exceeds 65%, surface moisture uptake can initiate screw bridging. The standard preventive measure is to include 0.2–0.5% precipitated silica and to keep mixer hold time below 20 min.
Three parameters most influence batch-to-batch variability: residual moisture, particle-size distribution, and fermentation-derived trace organic acid profile. A loss-on-drying shift from 22.0% to 27.0% alters as-fed calcium by approximately 0.9 g Ca/100 g; if the formulation is fixed on a dry-basis calcium value, the resulting under-delivery can be large enough to fail a final mixed feed calcium specification. Particle-size distribution also affects blend uniformity in a 2,000 L ploughshare mixer; material with 100% through 40 mesh but 20% through 100 mesh may fluidize during discharge, leaving late-discharge material enriched in fines. For this reason, a certificate of analysis should report sieve retention, not only median particle size. Fermentation-derived lactate can contain trace residual sugars or organic acids; these do not normally exceed flavor threshold, but they can increase hygroscopicity in high-sugar premixes.
In piglet prestarter formulations with total calcium fixed at 0.9%, replacing 25% of limestone calcium with calcium lactate pentahydrate requires 17.3 kg/t of lactate product. The calculation follows from 13.0% calcium in the hydrated material: 0.25 × 0.9 × 10,000 g/0.130 = 1,730 g product per tonne. The equivalent limestone mass for that same 25% share would be approximately 5.6 kg/t because calcium carbonate contains 40.0% calcium. In broiler starter or piglet prestarter feed, the lactate product therefore changes the matrix mass balance and the powder flow behavior of the dry mix, particularly when limestone is simultaneously reduced. The product is not a mass-for-mass substitute for calcium carbonate and must be entered into feed formulation software with its actual calcium coefficient and moisture value.
Calcium lactate is used in prestarter and milk replacer applications where high gastric pH after limestone ingestion is undesirable. At 17.3 kg/t, the product introduces no carbonate buffering capacity; the lactate anion is absorbed and metabolized or used as an energy substrate. This reduces acid-binding to pH 3.0 compared with the same mass of calcium carbonate, but the lactate cannot replace limestone on an equal-mass basis because it delivers only about one-third of the calcium. In milk replacer dispersions prepared at 40–50 °C, the pentahydrate dissolves before mixing into skim-milk-based systems. The solution should not be held above 50 °C for extended periods because prolonged heating in the presence of protein and reducing sugars can increase browning, not because the lactate is thermally unstable at that temperature. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so dairy plants should confirm reconstitution stability with the actual skim-milk solids source.
Table 2 shows mass requirements to supply the same amount of elemental calcium. The differences are based on chemical stoichiometry rather than commercial assay.
| Calcium source | Calcium content | Mass to supply 1 kg elemental Ca | Primary feed application boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium carbonate | 40.0% | 2.50 kg | Least-cost calcium, high acid-neutralizing capacity |
| Calcium formate | 30.8% | 3.25 kg | Acidifying calcium source, limited palatability at high dose |
| Calcium citrate tetrahydrate | 21.1% | 4.74 kg | Medium solubility, moderate acid-neutralizing effect |
| Calcium lactate pentahydrate | 13.0% | 7.69 kg | Soluble, low acid-neutralizing, young animal and milk replacer use |
| Calcium gluconate monohydrate | 8.9% | 11.24 kg | Soluble, low calcium density, higher cost |
Calcium lactate pentahydrate is therefore selected not for calcium density but for solubility and low acid-neutralizing behavior. Calcium carbonate is preferred when least-cost calcium is the sole goal; calcium formate is used where both calcium and an acidifying anion are desirable; calcium citrate and calcium gluconate are reserved for high-value milk replacers or petfood where solubility and low reactivity justify cost. The lactate molecule occupies an intermediate position: higher calcium density than gluconate but lower than carbonate or formate, with a neutral-to-slightly-alkaline solution pH and high water dispersibility.
Feed-grade calcium lactate must be stored in closed containers at ambient relative humidity below 65%. Prolonged exposure above 65% has been associated with caking and loss of sieve specification. Do not blend with strong oxidizing agents, concentrated strong acids, or high-moisture fermented liquid feed unless consumption occurs within 12 h; the lactate anion is a fermentable substrate and can drive pH decline or carbon dioxide formation in mixed liquid systems. For dry premixes containing choline chloride and organic acids, separate addition lines or sequential addition is recommended because free moisture can form localized clumps. Batch release documentation should include lot number, hydrate form, sieve result, residual moisture, calcium content, and the standard cited; certificates that omit hydrate form create dosing risk because of the difference between 13.0% and 18.4% calcium.