Maternally-derived antibody to fibroblast growth factor-23 reduced dietary phosphate requirements in growing chicks

Phosphate in manure of monogastric animals pollutes the environment if improperly applied to soil. Strategies that reduce phosphate inputs into animal production systems reduce environmental pollution. Using a novel vaccine to fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), we induced neutralizing antibodies that reduced the phosphate requirement of growing chickens. Breeding hens were injected with a FGF-23 peptide (AFLPGMNP) conjugate. Antibody was passively transferred from hen to chick and chick response to deficient dietary phosphate intake was determined. Chicks without passive anti-FGF-23 antibody had a 43% and 21% reduction in blood phosphate and bone ash, respectively, when fed a phosphate deficient diet and compared to chicks fed a phosphate replete diet (P < 0.05). Chicks with circulating anti-FGF-23 antibodies fed the phosphate deficient diet had plasma phosphate and bone ash that did not differ from chicks fed the phosphate replete diet (P > 0.05). Neutralization of FGF-23 offers a new approach to reduce phosphate requirements of farmed animals and may provide a new means to reduce phosphate pollution related to animal farming.

► A vaccine can be used to change a nutrient requirement of an animal.
► Antibody to a specific FGF-23 peptide reduces the phosphate requirements of chicks.
► Maternal transfer of anti-FGF-23 reduces the need to add phosphate to commercial chicken diets.