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Phosphorus in Swine. III. Influence of Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Levels and Growth Rate on Mineral Content of Hair from Gilts and Barrows or Boars¹

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061

Abstract

The mineral content of swine hair was evaluated in two trials, each involving 192 crossbred pigs (barrows and gilts in trial 1 and boars and gilts in trial 2). At 60 to 70 days of age, the pigs were divided into fast and slow growth rate groups, based on daily gain from birth, and assigned to the following dietary treatments, as percentages of NRC recommendations for market hogs: (1) 100% Ca and P, (2) 125% Ca and P, (3) 100% Ca and 125% P and (4) 100% Ca and 75% P. Initial and final hair samples were clipped from the right side of the pigs. Some sex-related differences in the mineral content of the hair were observed, but differences were usually not consistent from initial to final sampling and from trial to trial. With the exceptions of Cu, which was lower for the fast growth rate group in both trials, and P, which was lower for the same group in trial 2, the mineral content of final hair samples did not differ between growth rate groups. The P content of hair was increased when 125% P was fed with 100 or 125% Ca but was not depressed when 75% P was fed with 100% Ca; the Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Na and K contents were not consistently affected. The Zn and Mn contents were not depressed when high Ca and P levels were fed, but the Zn and Mn contents were increased when the low P level was fed. High positive correlation coefficients (r>.7) were observed between the Ca, Mg, Na and K contents of hair; high positive coefficients (r>.4<.7) were observed between the Mn content and the P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na and K contents; significant low positive coefficients (r<.4) were observed between the P content and the Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Na and K contents, and between the Cu and Mn contents; significant low negative coefficients (r<–.3) were observed between the Zn content and the Ca, Mg, Na and K contents. The results show that the mineral content of hair can be influenced by the dietary level fed but that the class of mineral and level of other minerals can influence the response. With our present knowledge, the use of the mineral content of hair in assessing the mineral composition of an animal appears to be of limited value.

¹ Appreciation is expressed to Charlie Babb, Carl Eure and Paul Boone for feeding and caring for the pigs and for collecting hair samples; to Cindy Atkins for typing the manuscript; to Dr. K. H. Hinkelman and Bill Woodall for statistical analysis, and to Smith-Douglass, Division of Borden Chemical, Borden, Inc. for partial financial support.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ Tidewater Research and Continuing Education Center.