Triple super phosphate as a source of phosphorus in the diet of growing bull

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the use of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) as a source of phosphorus in growing cattle. Twelve indigenous growing bull (initial live weight of 150 ± 10 kg) were assigned to four dietary treatments, viz. basal diet (T₀) containing 0.14% P and basal diet was supplemented with TSP to provide P levels of 0.24 (T₁), 0.35 (T₂) and 0.45% (T₃) respectively. All diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic. Significant (P<0.05) differences in dry matter intake (DMI) were observed among the dietary treatments. The DMI (g/d) of animals fed diet having 0.35% P was higher than the diet containing 0.14, 0.24 and 0.45% P. The apparent digestibility of DM and OM were significantly (P<0.01) affected but CP and EE were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the supplementation of P from TSP. The digestibility of CF and NFE was significantly (P<0.01) higher for diets T₂ (0.35% P) compared to diet containing 0.14, 0.24 and 0.45% P. Apparent absorption of P was significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals fed on diet containing 0.14% phosphorous (T₀) than diets with 0.35 and 0.45% phosphorus and true absorption (g/100g) of P was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the animals fed on diets T₀ (0.14% P) than those fed on other diets (T₁, T₂ and T₃. Phosphorus balance was significantly (P<0.01) higher for diets T₁ (4.37 g/d), T₂ (5.75 g/d) and T₃ (7.09 g/d) compared to diet T₀ (2.87 g/d) and highest value was observed on diet T_3. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference among the mean values for live weight gain and the highest daily live weight gain was observed for diet T₂ (69.44g) compared to the other diets T₀, T₁ and T₃). The average serum P concentration of animals fed on diets T₁, T₂ and T₃ was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of animal fed on diet T₀. The results suggested that supplementation of TSP as a source of phosphorus increased total DMI, digestibility of CF, NFE, P retention, P content of blood serum and live weight gain of growing calves. Therefore, supplementation of 0.21% P from TSP may be used in growing cattle ration.

Key words: Phosphorus; Triple super phosphate; Growing bull

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v39i1-2.9681

Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2010, 39(1&2): 89-96