Phosphorus Requirement of Finishing Yearlings

Authors

Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mark Klemesrud, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Todd Milton, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 1998

Comments

Published in Nebraska Beef Cattle Report 1998, published by Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Abstract

Sixty yearling crossbred steers (849 lb) were fed individually either 0.35 or 0.70 % of DM as Ca and 0.14, 0.19, 0.24, 0.29 or 0.34 % P. Ash content was determined on bones from the lower front legs and one rib from each carcass was used to determine breaking strength. Performance and bone characteristics were not affected by dietary P concentration or P intake. Steers fed the 0.70 % Ca diets had lower gains and poorer efficiencies when compared to those fed 0.35 % Ca. These results indicate the requirement for finishing yearlings is 0.14 % P or less and it is not necessary to supplement P in typical finishing diets fed to yearling steers, as corn is usually greater than 0.25 % P.