Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Growing-Finishing Swine

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Abstract
Calcium and phosphorus requirements of growing-finishing swine fed rations fortified with vitamins, trace minerals, and an antibiotic, were investigated employing a partial 6 × 7 factorial plan, with dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus ranging from 0.2 through 0.8 and 0.2 through 0.7%, respectively. Multiple regression analysis involving the averages of four pigs per treatment within weight groups revealed 67 to 76%, 76 to 93% and 75 to 88% of the variability in average daily gain, breaking strength of femurs, and femur ash content, respectively, was attributable to the variation of calcium and phosphorus in the ration. Phosphorus had a greater influence on the response criteria than did calcium. The calcium-phosphorus ratio was more important when minimal dietary levels of phosphorus were fed. Flame spectrophotometric analysis revealed no significant difference in calcium, potassium, sodium or magnesium content of femur ash in two trials examined. There was no statistically significant change in the phosphorus content of the femur ash due to ration treatment. As the dietary phosphorus level increased, there was a significant increase in both femur weight and femur fat content. The dietary requirements to assure maximum rate of gain and optimum skeletal development appears to be 0.8% calcium and 0.6% phosphorus, for the pig from 25 lb. to 100 lb., and 0.7% calcium and 0.5% phosphorus from 25 lb. to 200 lb. Copyright © . .