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Calcium Requirement of the Cesarean Derived Colostrum-Free Pig from 3 through 9 Weeks of Age¹

Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74074

Abstract

Forty-three cesarean-derived colostrum-free pigs, 3 weeks of age, were used to determine the influence of dietary calcium level on growth, efficiency of feed utilization, serum calcium, serum phosphorus and skeletal development. Semipurified diets containing dietary calcium levels of 0.41, 0.58, 0.74, 0.90 and 1.06% in combination with 0.75% phosphorus were fed for 6 weeks to pigs kept in individual metal pens in environmentally controlled rooms. Growth rates increased linearly (P<.01) as dietary calcium level increased in trial 1. A similar but nonsignificant (P<.10) trend was observed in trial 2. Although not significant, the greatest efficiencies of feed conversion occurred in pigs receiving 0.74% calcium or higher in trial 1 and 0.90% calcium or higher in trial 2. Serum calcium tended to increase with increasing dietary calcium level while serum phosphorus was not significantly influenced.

The greatest values for bone weight, length and specific gravity of the femur, humerus, eighth rib and ulna-radius occurred in pigs receiving 0.90 or 1.06% calcium. Likewise, the diameter of all bones measured with the exception of the eighth rib, was largest in pigs receiving 0.90 or 1.06% calcium. The percent ash, calcium and phosphorus of the turbinate and rib as well as the calcium to phosphorus ratio of the turbinate responded linearly to increased dietary calcium intake and the turbinate appeared to be much more responsive to dietary calcium intake than other bones measured. Of other bones analyzed, the percent ash and calcium of the humerus responded linearly and the percent ash of the femur and ulna-radius responded quadratically with ash values leveling off in pigs receiving above 0.58% calcium. These data suggest that the calcium requirement for maximum mineralization of specific bones, particularly the turbinate, may be higher than the levels currently recommended by N.R.C. (1968).

¹ Journal Article 2454 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74074.

² Present address: Central Soya, Decatur, Indiana 46733.

³ Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.

⁴ Department of Biochemistry.