Requirement for digestible calcium by 25 to 50 kg pigs at different dietary concentrations of phosphorus as indicated by growth performance, bone ash concentration, and calcium and phosphorus balances

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2016-12, Vol.94 (12), p.5272-5285
• Main Authors: González-Vega, J C, Walk, C L, Murphy, M R, Stein, H H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Calcium, Dietary - metabolism; Diet - veterinary; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism; Glycine max; Male; Minerals - metabolism; Phosphorus, Dietary - metabolism; Random Allocation; Swine - growth & development; Swine - physiology; Zea mays
• ISSN: 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0751

Two experiments were conducted to determine the requirement for standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca by 25 to 50 kg pigs at different concentrations of STTD P. Twenty corn-soybean meal based diets were formulated with diets containing 4 concentrations of STTD P (0.15, 0.31, 0.39, or 0.47%) and 5 concentrations of STTD Ca (0.13, 0.27, 0.42, 0.57, or 0.72%). Diets were mixed in 1 batch and were used in both experiments. In Exp. 1, 240 pigs (initial average BW: 24.70 ± 1.27 kg) were randomly allotted to the 20 diets in 6 blocks with 1 pen per diet in each block using a 4 × 5 factorial design. There was 1 gilt and 1 barrow in each pen. At the conclusion of the 28 d experiment, all barrows were euthanized and the right femur was collected. Results indicated that there were interactions ( < 0.001) between concentration of STTD Ca and concentration of STTD P in diets for ADG, G:F, and bone ash. The predicted maximum ADG at STTD P concentrations of 0.15, 0.31, 0.39, and 0.47% were 0.76, 0.87, 0.90, and 0.92 kg at STTD Ca concentrations of 0.12, 0.36, 0.47, and 0.59%, respectively, which correspond to STTD Ca:STTD P ratios of 0.80:1, 1.16:1, 1.21:1, and 1.26:1. The predicted maximum G:F ratio at the 4 STTD P concentrations were 0.43, 0.46, 0.48, and 0.50 kg/kg at STTD Ca concentrations of 0.09, 0.38, 0.52, and 0.67%, respectively, and these values correspond to STTD Ca:STTD P ratios of 0.60:1, 1.23:1, 1.33:1, and 1.43:1. The predicted maximum bone ash at the 4 STTD P concentrations were 14.5, 21.0, 23.1, and 24.5 g at STTD Ca concentrations of 0.41, 0.56, 0.64, and 0.72%, respectively, which correspond to STTD Ca:STTD P ratios of 2.73:1, 1.81:1, 1.64:1, and 1.53:1. In Exp. 2, 120 pigs (initial average BW: 29.45 ± 2.15 kg) were placed in metabolism crates and randomly allotted to the 20 diets in 6 blocks with 1 pig per diet in each block. Fecal and urine samples were collected. Results indicated that the predicted maximum retention of Ca in the body at STTD P concentrations of 0.15, 0.31, 0.39, and 0.47% were 4.7, 7.1, 8.6, and 10.2 g/d at STTD Ca concentrations of 0.77, 0.96, 1.06, and 1.15%, respectively, which correspond to STTD Ca:STTD P ratios of 5.13:1, 3.10:1, 2.72:1, and 2.45:1. These observations indicate that if STTD P meets or exceeds the requirement, the STTD Ca:STTD P ratio needed to maximize ADG and G:F by 25 to 50 kg pigs is between 1.16:1 and 1.43:1. However, a greater ratio may be needed to maximize bone ash or Ca retention.