Apparent Digestibility of the Phosphorus in Sorghum Grain and Soybean Meal for Growing Swine

Abstract

Two experiments involving a total of 28 pigs were conducted to determine the apparent digestibility of the phosphorus in sorghum grain and 44% crude protein soybean meal when fed to growing swine. All diets were calculated to supply the known nutrient requirements of swine with the exception of phosphorus. Each animal in these experiments completed two 5-day digestion trials during which they were full fed. In experiment I, the apparent digestibility of the dicalcium phosphate in the corn grits diets was 63.7 and 73.9% for the 0.3 and 0.5% phosphorus levels, respectively. Using these values to determine the amount of dicalcium phosphate phosphorus excreted in the sorghum grain diets, the apparent digestibility of the phosphorus in sorghum grain was calculated to be 4.5 and 1.9% for the 0.3 and 0.5% phosphorus levels, respectively. In experiment II, the apparent digestibility of the dicalcium phosphate phosphorus in the blood fibrin diet was 49.4%. Using this value to calculate the apparent digestibility of the soybean meal phosphorus gave a value of 27.0%. Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science