Reducing phosphorus concentration in pig diets by adding an environmental objective to the traditional feed formulation algorithm

Abstract

Abstract A multi-objective optimization method based on the traditional least-cost formulation program was developed to reduce both feed cost and total phosphorus (P) content in pig feeds. The objective function of the proposed method comprises a traditional economic term and a term that assigns a cost (β) to the excess and unavailable P (EUP) in the diet, the latter estimated by the difference between P requirements and available P supplied by the diet. To evaluate this method, feeds for growing (20–65 kg live weight) and finishing pigs (65–105 kg) formulated with two balanced protein levels (90 and 130 g/kg) and two available phosphorus levels (3.2 and 2.6 g/kg) were evaluated in two economic contexts (France and Quebec) over a 12-month period (June 2002–May 2003). Microbial phytase was added to the feeds at rates of 0, 250, 500 and 750 phytase units. All feed formulas contained the required available P and other nutrients. The increase in β reduced the total P and EUP in feed formulas. During the period studied, EUP decreased by 5% or more for an increase in feed cost of about 1.5% in France and 1% in Quebec. For some months however, the economically optimal solution was close to a solution that produces substantially less EUP at slightly higher cost. For example, in nearly half of the months, a reduction of 10% or more was achieved in Quebec for the same 1% increase in ingredient cost. The reduction in EUP with increasing β occurred independently of the addition of microbial phytase. The combined effect of microbial phytase incorporation and the proposed feed formulation method on EUP reduction is almost additive. Thus, the combined use of these two techniques can promote the sustainability of the swine industry by contributing to the reduction of P excretion in swine operations with small increases in feeding cost. The proposed method can be applied to minerals other than P or to other livestock production systems in which mineral excretion can be estimated from feed composition.