April 6, 2010

Swine producers need to balance phosphorus supplementation carefully

Pork producers are encouraged to consider a variety of feeding strategies designed to reduce the need for the inclusion of supplemental phosphorus in the diet.

Phosphorus is vital for the formation of muscle and bone and in many enzyme reactions required for growth, but excess phosphorus excreted in manure is an environmental concern.

Dr. Denise Beaulieu, a research Scientist with the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, said by matching the amount of phosphorus in the diet more closely to the pig's requirements, less phosphorus will be excreted in the manure.

She said feeding low phytate grains, such as the low phytate barley developed by the University of Saskatchewan, or by adding an enzyme that breaks down the phytate in the grain will allow the pigs to better utilise the plant based phosphorus.

She said, because phosphorus requirements vary according to sex and change as the pigs age, formulating different rations for male and female pigs and according to stage of development will also reduce the amount of excess phosphorus in the diet.