Effect of dietary phosphorus content on milk production and phosphorus excretion in dairy cows

Background：Phosphorus（P） supplementation is costly and can result in excess P excretion.This study investigated the effects of reducing dietary P on milk production and P excretion in dairy cows over a full lactation.Method：Forty-five multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided into 15 blocks according to expected calving date and previous milk yield,and assigned randomly to one of the three dietary treatments：0.37,0.47,and 0.57%P（DM basis）;these P levels represent the NRC recommendations,Chinese recommendations,and the amount of dietary P commonly fed by Chinese dairy farmers,respectively.Average daily feed intake was calculated from monthly data on feed offered and refused.Milk yields of individual cows were recorded weekly,and milk samples were taken for analysis of protein,fat,solids-not-fat,lactose,and somatic cell count.Blood samples were collected on days-6,-3,0,3,6 relative to calving,and then monthly throughout lactation,and analyzed for P and Ca concentrations.Spot samples of feces and urine were collected for 3 consecutive d during weeks 12,24,and 36,and P concentrations were analyzed.Reproduction and health data were recorded.Results：Dietary P did not affect dry matter intake or milk yield（P〉 0.10）.Milk fat content was slightly higher in cows fed 0.37%P than in cows fed 0.47%P（P = 0.05）.Serum concentrations of P and Ca did not reflect dietary P content（P〉 0.10）.Fecal and urinary P both declined linearly（P〈 0.05） as dietary P decreased from 0.57 to0.37%.Fecal P content was 25%less when dietary P was 0.37%compared to 0.57%.Health events and reproductive performance were not associated with dietary P content（P〉 0.05）.Conclusions：Lowering dietary P from 0.57 to 0.37%did not negatively affect milk production,but did significantly reduce P excretion into environment.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Phytase Transgenic Corn on Growth Performance,Phosphorus Utilization and Excretion in Growing Pigs (Sus scrofa)

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with phytase transgenic corn （PTC） on growth performance,phosphorus （P） utilization and excretion in growing pigs.In Exp.1,180 pigs （Large White × Landrace,BW=37.7 kg） were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 5 replicates of 9 pigs each in order to evaluate the effect of PTC supplementation in low-P diets on growth performance.Four corn soybean meal-based diets consisted of a positive control （PC） diet,a diet containing 500 units （U） of exogenous phytase kg-1 （EP） on the basis of low-P （inorganic P reduced by 0.05% from PC diet） and the low-P＋500 （PTC1） or 750 （PTC2） phytase U of PTC kg-1.In Exp.2,20 barrows （Large White×Landrace,BW=31 kg,4 treatments with 5 replicates of 1 pig each） were randomly selected to evaluate the effect of PTC in low-P diets on serum parameters and nutrient utilization.Diets in Exp.2 were similar to those in Exp.1 except that the EP group was replaced by a low-P diet without exogenous phytase supplementation as a negative control （NC） group.The results from Exp.1 showed that the average daily gain （ADG） in the PTC2 group was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that in the EP group over all periods.On the other hand,the feed：gain （F：G） ratio of the EP group was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that of the PTC2 group during 1-21 and 1-42 d,respectively.There were no differences in average daily feed intake （ADFI） among all treatments （P〉0.05）.The results from Exp.2 showed that the concentration of serum Ca in the NC group was the highest （P〈0.05）,while the concentration of serum P in the PTC2 group was the highest （P〈0.05） among all treatments.There was a significant decrease （P〈0.05） in the P apparent digestibility of the NC group compared with the other groups,and that of PTC2 group was the best.Furthermore,fecal P excretion was reduced （P〈0.05） from 1.80 g d-1 in the PC group to 1.28 g d-1 in the PTC2 group.In conclusion,dietary supplementation with PTC could reduce the application of inorganic P,decrease fecal P excretion,and improve the growth performance of growing pigs.

A simple daily dynamic feeding regimen for reducing phosphorus consumption and excretion in laying hens

Phosphorus metabolism in laying hens is a highly dynamic process over the course of the 24 h egg-laying cycle.Adjusting the phosphorus feeding regimen according to the daily egg-laying cycle may help to improve phosphorus utilization efficiency.Hy-Line Brown layers(n=120;70 wk old)were offered 4different phosphorus daily regimens:(1)RR,fed regular phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00;(2)RL,fed regular phosphorus at 09:00 and low phosphorus at 17:00;(3)LR,fed low phosphorus at 09:00 and regular phosphorus at 17:00;(4)LL,fed low phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00.The regular and low phosphorus diets contained 0.32% and 0.14% non-phytate phosphorus,respectively.The feeding trial lasted for 12 wk.As a result,layers on the RL regimen had decreased laying rate(P<0.05;5 to 8,9 to 12,and 1 to 12 wk)when compared to all other regimens.Layers on the LL regimen had decreased eggshell thickness and specific gravity(P<0.05;wk 8)when compared to all other regimens,and had decreased egg shell strength(P<0.05;wk 8)when compared to RL and LR regimens.When compared to the RR regimen(a common practice in the industry),layers on the LR regimen had:(1)identical laying performance and egg quality(P>0.05);(2)decreased phosphorus excretion(P<0.05)during the period of09:00 to 17:00;(3)increased jejunal calbindin D28k protein expression(P<0.05)2 h after feeding in the morning;(4)decreased serum fibroblast growth factor 23 and calcitriol levels(P<0.05),decreased jejunal type Ⅲ sodium-phosphate cotransporter 2 gene and protein expression(P<0.05),and decreased renal type Ⅲ sodium-phosphate cotransporter 1 protein expression(P<0.05),2 h after feeding in the afternoon.In summary,when dietary phosphorus was supplemented in accordance with daily serum phosphorus rhythms(i.e.,the LR regimen),laying performance and egg quality were well supported whilst significantly decreasing phosphorus consumption and excretion.Thus,serum phosphorus rhythms will need to be carefully maintained when developing dietary phosphorus-reduction strategies in laying hens.