Phosphorous in pig diets

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Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for pigs - vital for bone formation and growth - but it is also a major contributor to the eutrophication of waterways and is therefore viewed with concern by environmentalists.

Three levels of total P were compared: 0.6 percent, 0.5 percent and and 0.45 percent (fresh basis). If all finishing pigs in Northern Ireland were offered diets based on 0.45 percent P rather than 0.6 percent P, loss of P to the environment would be reduced by 86 tonnes a year, says Dr. Elizabeth McCann.

The research has concluded:

• 0.45 percent total P (fresh basis) is sufficient to supply adequate P for growth and metabolism in finishing pigs.
• It is not possible to formulate finishing pig diets to levels lower than 0.45 percent total P (fresh basis).
• 0.6 percent total P (fresh basis) results in an oversupply of P to finishing pigs and increases urinary P loss.

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