Abstract
Effects of Dietary Total Calcium to Total Phosphorus Ratio on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Bone Mineralization, and Economics in 58- to 281-lb Pigs
Highlights
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body followed by phosphorus
A total of 1,134 barrows and gilts (PIC; 359 × Camborough) with an initial pen average body weight (BW) of 58.0 ± 1.57 lb were used in a 110-d growth trial to determine the effects of feeding different analyzed total calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) ratios on performance of growing-finishing pigs from 58 to 281 lb
Gain value and income over feed cost (IOFC) increased quadratically (P < 0.05), with the greatest revenue observed for pigs fed diets with 1.25:1 analyzed total Ca:P ratio, and IOFC for pigs fed 1.00:1 analyzed total Ca:P ratio
Summary
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body followed by phosphorus. These minerals are involved in many physiological functions such as protein synthesis, maintenance of osmotic and acid-base balances, components in membranes, and bone development and mineralization. To have an adequate absorption and utilization of both Ca and P, it is necessary to consider an appropriate Ca:P ratio when formulating diets for pigs. Research has shown that feeding excess Ca can result in reduced growth performance and bone mineralization, especially when diets are marginally deficient in P.7,8. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of feeding different Ca:P ratios in diets adequate in STTD P on growth performance, carcass characteristics, bone mineralization, and economics of growingfinishing pigs housed in a commercial environment Research has shown that feeding excess Ca can result in reduced growth performance and bone mineralization, especially when diets are marginally deficient in P.7,8 A recent study has determined the requirement of standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P of growing-finishing pigs. the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of feeding different Ca:P ratios in diets adequate in STTD P on growth performance, carcass characteristics, bone mineralization, and economics of growingfinishing pigs housed in a commercial environment
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