Phosphorus Requirement of the Baby Pig

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Abstract
Studies were made with 32 baby pigs in 2 trials to determine their dietary phosphorus requirement. Using a synthetic milk diet, the calcium level was maintained at 0.8%, and phosphorus concentration varied from 0.2 to 0.8% of dietary solids with dietary casein consistently supplying 0.2% of phosphorus and USP grade CaHPO4·2H2O supplying the additional phosphorus. A dietary phosphorus level of 0.4% appeared adequate to effect normal growth and economy of food utilization. A dietary phosphorus level of 0.5% was adequate to maintain normal concentrations of serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase and to provide for an adequate rate of skeletal development. To obtain maximal strength of bone and to insure the absence of rachitic lesions it appears necessary to provide the baby pig with 0.6% of dietary phosphorus.