Search Filter
- Publications
- Abstract of Theses and Dissertations
- Database
- The calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Swine: Weanling Pigs from...
The calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Swine: Weanling Pigs from 10 to 20 Kilograms Liveweight
Thesis Abstract:
A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the favorable levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus for the normal growth, development and physiological activities of weanling pigs. Criteria used included daily feed consumption, daily weight gain, feed efficiency, blood serum calcijm and inorganic phosphorus concentrations, blood serum alkaline phophatase activity, bone calcium and phosphorus contents, and blood clotting time.
The pigs were fed six rations with varying levels of calcium and phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus ratios.
The ration treatments did not produce any significant differences in feed consumption and efficiency, and in serum and bone calcium. However, the calcium-phosphorus ratio influenced the weight gain, and the dietary phosphorus level was reflected by serum alkaline phosphatase activity.
The results suggest that under tropical conditions, the calcium and phosphorus requirements for weanling pigs are 0.91 and 0.75%, respectively, or a calcium-phosphorus ratio of 1.2:1.