Mineral Balance Studies with the Baby Pig: Effects of Dietary Phosphorus Level upon Calcium and Phosphorus Balance

Abstract

Calcium and phosphorus balance studies were conducted on 29 baby pigs receiving a synthetic milk diet containing phosphorus levels of 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8% with 0.8% calcium. Growth rate, food intake and mineral retention were greatly depressed in pigs receiving 0.2% of phosphorus. Increasing dietary phosphorus levels to 0.5% resulted in increased total phosphorus retention (g) and percentage phosphorus retention. Increasing dietary phosphorus levels beyond 0.5% did not increase phosphorus retention (g) but decreased percentage phosphorus retention. Dietary phosphorus levels below 0.5% resulted in reduced calcium retention (g) whereas increasing dietary phosphorus levels above 0.5% did not affect calcium balance. The dietary phosphorus requirement for optimal utilization of calcium and phosphorus is therefore about 0.5%.