Apparent digestible phosphorus in the feeding of pigs in relation to availability, requirement and environment. 1. Digestible phosphorus in feedstuffs from plant and animal origin.

Abstract

The digestibility of phosphorus in 15 feeds from plant sources and 8 from animal sources were studied using the total faeces collection technique in 75 trials with pigs 45 to 110 kg in order to match P availability to requirement and thereby reducing excess excretion and hence environmental pollution. Results show that P digestibility in feeds of plant origin varies substantially. For maize, maize byproducts, rice bran and sunflower seed meal P digestibility was low, varying from 10 to 20%. P digestibility of barley, beans (Phaseolus spp.) and soyabean meal solvent extracted ranged from 37 to 39% and dehulled and non-dehulled soyabean meal gave similar results. The highest P digestibility was obtained for wheat and peas, 47 and 45%, respectively. Differences in P digestibility can be explained by the proportion of phytate P and the presence of phytase. P digestibility in feeds of animal origin was high, ranging from 68 to 91%. Differences in P digestibility may be due to differences in technological treatment or physico-chemical structure of the products. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)