282 Effect of formulating diets based on a ratio between STTD Ca and STTD P and the inclusion of phytase on the calcium and phosphorus balance of growing pigs

Abstract

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that formulating diets for pigs based on a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P instead of total Ca and STTD P increases the efficiency of Ca and P utilization. Forty barrows (59.4 ± 3.8 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates and allotted to 4 corn-soybean meal diets and 2 periods of 11 d in a randomized complete block design. Diets were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 Ca requirement estimates (total Ca or STTD Ca) and 2 inclusion levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 units/kg). Phytase was assumed to release 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. Diets were formulated based on requirements for total Ca and STTD P and the ratio between STTD Ca and STTD P was 1.25:1 in diets formulated based on STTD Ca. Fecal and urine samples were collected from feed provided from d 6 to 9. Data for Ca and P balance were analyzed using a model that included the main effects of diet formulation and phytase level, the interaction between main effects, and the random effect of period. Interactions (P < 0.05) between diet formulation and phytase level were observed for Ca intake, Ca in feces, Ca digestibility, Ca retained as a percentage of intake, P digestibility, P absorbed, and P in urine (Table 1). Despite being provided less (P < 0.05) Ca, pigs fed diets formulated based on STTD Ca did not absorb or retain less Ca than pigs fed total Ca diets, but they absorbed more (P < 0.05) P than pigs fed diets formulated based on total Ca. In conclusion, by formulating diets based on values for STTD Ca, P absorption was increased confirming detrimental effects of oversupplying Ca.