T. R. Cline

Phytase and cholecalciferol supplementation of low-calcium and low-phosphorus diets for pigs

The effects of different levels of calcium, phytase, and cholecalciferol in low-phosphorus diets were studied in individually-penned 20-kg pigs for 28 d. The positive control diet, used in all three experiments, was formulated to contain 6 g Ca and 5.4 g P kg−1. In the first experiment, four barrows and four gilts received one of seven diets arranged as a positive control plus 2 × 3 factorial of phytase (0 or 1, 600 units kg−1) and calcium (3, 4.5 or 6 g kg−1) containing phosphorus at 3.4 g kg−1. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.05) plasma phosphorus concentration, weight gain and gain:feed ratio. Plasma phosphorus, weight gain and gain:feed ratio were linearly reduced (P < 0.05) as dietary calcium level increased in the low-phosphorus diets but not in the phytase-supplemented low-phosphorus diets. The second experiment was similar to the first experiment, except that phytase was reduced to 800 units kg−1 and dietary calcium levels were 2.5, 3, or 3.5 g kg−1. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.05) weight ...