Evaluation of serum parameters to predict the dietary intake of calcium and available phosphorus in growing pigs.

ABSTRACT: Adequate provision of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) is essential for bone formation and high growth performance in pigs. Nevertheless, reliable serum biomarkers for pig's Ca and P intake are still missing. Here, we used phytase supplementation to alter the dietary available P (aP) level in order to investigate the effect of differences in dietary aP levels on serum parameters related to the Ca and P homeostasis in pigs. Moreover, we assessed whether serum parameters can be used to predict the Ca, total P (tP), and aP intake in barrows and gilts throughout the fattening period. In total, 216 pigs (115 gilts and 101 barrows) were randomly allotted to one of the two diets in three replicate batches, each lasting 56 d (n = 108/diet). Pigs had free access to the diets without (Con) or

SUBMITTER: Votterl JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8244991 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature