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Phosphorus Requirement of Young Pigs¹

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station³, Gainesville

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the phosphorus requirement and optimum Ca:P ratio for pigs from 2 to 7 weeks of age. The pigs were weaned at 2 weeks of age and were individually fed semipurified or fortified corn-soybean rations respectively until 49 and 155 days old. Criteria used in establishing the optimum requirement and ratio were, weight gain, feed efficiency, percent ash and radiographs of the fibula and femur and length of the femur. An evaluation of all criteria indicated that the phosphorus requirement of pigs from 2 to 7 weeks of age was 0.44% of the ration and that with this phosphorus level the optimum Ca:P ratio was 0.9:1. From 49 to approximately 155 days of age 0.44% phosphorus with a Ca:P ratio 1.2:1 was adequate for optimum growth and skeletal development.

¹ Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1261.

² Present address: Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, Missouri.

³ Department of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition. The authors are indebted to American Cyanamid Co., Dawe's Laboratories, Inc. and Chas. Pfizer and Company, Inc. for generously supplying the vitamins and antibiotics used in this study. Acknowledgement is due A. E. Brandt for statistical aid.