Phosphorus Requirement of Finishing Feedlot Calves

Authors

• Galen Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Terry Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• C. T. Milton, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Dennis Brink, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• M. W. Orth, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• K. M. Whittet, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2002

Comments

Published in J. Anim. Sci. 2002. 80:1690–1695. Copyright © 2002 American Society of Animal Science. Used by permission.

Abstract

Dietary P supplied to feedlot cattle is important because an inadequate supply will compromise performance, whereas excess P may harm the environment. However, P requirements of feedlot cattle are not well documented. Therefore, 45 steer calves (265.2 ±16.6 kg) were individually fed to determine the P required for gain and bone integrity over a 204-d finishing period. The basal diet consisted of 33.5% high-moisture corn, 30% brewers grits, 20% corn bran, 7.5% cottonseed hulls, 3% tallow, and 6% supplement. Treatments consisted of 0.16 (no supplemental inorganic P), 0.22, 0.28, 0.34, and 0.40% P (DM basis). Supplemental P was provided by monosodium phosphate top-dressed to the daily feed allotment. Blood was sampled every 56 d to assess P status. At slaughter, phalanx and metacarpal bones were collected from the front leg to determine bone ash and assess P resorption from bone. Dry matter intake and ADG did not change linearly (P> 0.86) or quadratically (P > 0.28) due to P treatment. Feed efficiency was not influenced (P > &#;0.30) by P treatment and averaged 0.169. Plasma inorganic P averaged across d 56 to 204 responded quadratically, with calves fed 0.16% P having the lowest concentration of plasma inorganic P. However, plasma inorganic P concentration (5.7 mg/dL) for steers fed 0.16% P is generally considered adequate. Total bone ash weight was not influenced by dietary P for phalanx (P = &#;0.19) or metacarpal bones (P = &#;0.37). Total P intake ranged from 14.2 to 35.5 g/d. The NRC (1996) recommendation for these calves was 18.7 g/d, assuming 68% absorption. Based on performance results, P requirements for finishing calves is < &#;0.16% of diet DM or 14.2 g/d. Based on these observations, we suggest that typical grain-based feedlot cattle diets do not require supplementation of inorganic mineral P to meet P requirements.