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Effects of excessive or restricted phosphorus and calcium intake during early life on markers of bone architecture and composition in pigs
Author(s) -
Gerlinger Christian,
Oster Michael,
Reyer Henry,
Polley Christian,
Vollmar Brigitte,
Muráni Eduard,
Wimmers Klaus,
Wolf Petra
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.13286
Subject(s) - calcium , phosphorus , composition (language) , zoology , biology , chemistry , medicine , organic chemistry , linguistics , philosophy
Sufficient supply of pigs with calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) is essential for animal health and welfare during the growth period. However, the P content in animal manure is considered as a cause of massive environmental problems in soil and aquatic ecosystems. To complement previous findings, the objective of this study is the investigation of effects of a reduced and increased Ca and P supplementation on bone mineralization and bone structure compared with the current dietary recommendation. Another aim is to find possible serum markers that would allow the assessment of adequacy of P supply for bone health during growth. The result validated that the recommended Ca and P supply is sufficient, without the addition of microbial phytases. However, addition of P has no further beneficial effects on bone stability, while P supplementation below the recommended level affects bone development and growth performance. Reduced P levels have consequences for cancellous bone density and trabecular architecture. Further fine‐tuning of the P supply in conjunction with an appropriate Ca supply will contribute to a reduction in P waste and associated environmental impact while maintaining animal health and welfare.