Low phosphorus animal feed containing 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds and method of preparing

An animal feed, preferably a poultry feed, containing an 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D compound. The vitamin D compound causes improved utilization of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and manganese available from inorganic sources in animal feed so as to minimize, or perhaps eliminate, the need for supplemental quantities of these minerals in an animal diet.