title: Response of growing Pekin ducks to supplementation of monobasic calcium phosphate to low-phosphorus diets.
abstract: The effects of a supplementation of P from monobasic calcium phosphate (MCP; Ca(H2PO4)2) to low-P basal diets were studied in growing Pekin ducks. Body weight gain and feed conversion were studied in two separate periods between Days 1 to 21 (Experiment 1) and between Days 21 to 49 (Experiments 2 and 3). Retention of P was measured by comparative slaughter technique in Experiment 1. Additionally, two balance trials with quantitative determination of intake and excretion of P were conducted between Days 12 to 17 and between Days 30 to 35. MCP was supplemented in 7 or 6 graded levels at the expense of sand. In cases when ANOVA showed a significant effect of MCP supplementation, the response of ducks was described by nonlinear functions. No significant effect of supplemental MCP on growth, feed intake or feed/gain ratio was detected in the period between Days 21 and 49 with a basal P level of 3.0 g/kg. Between Days 1 and 21, ducks needed 5.1 g P/kg diet to achieve 95% of ymax in BW gain. The ymax for P concentration in gained BW, determined from balance trials, was 5.6 and 5.1 g/kg between Days 12 to 17 and Days 30 to 35, respectively. Ninety-five percent of ymax in P retention was achieved with a dietary P concentration of 6.2 and 4.3 g/kg between Days 12 to 17 and Days 30 to 35. The cumulative efficiency of utilization (retention/intake x 100) of dietary P from the basal diet was 49% (Days 12 to 17) and 43% (Days 30 to 35), and approached maximum with increasing supplementation of MCP of 55 and 53%, respectively, before it decreased again with further increase in MCP supplementation. The marginal efficiency of supplemental P (deltay/deltax) showed a maximum of 86% (Days 12 to 17) and 92% (Days 30 to 35), and this maximum was achieved where only 75 and 72% of ymax in P retentions were achieved. It is concluded that ducks require a lower P concentration in the diet with increase in age, but that the efficiency of utilization of P from inorganic salts is not clearly affected by age. Conclusions regarding the P requirement largely depend on the response criterion chosen. Based on P retention data, a dietary level of available P is recommended to be 3.4 (Days 1 to 21) and 2.3 g/kg (Days 21 to 49), although growth was unaffected by P even at lower concentrations of available P. Future comparative studies on the availability of P from ingredients should be conducted at a dietary P concentration that allows for identifying the maximum in utilization.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ernährungswissenschaften, Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle, Germany. Rodehutscord@landw.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodehutscord
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timmler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wendt
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004372:Ducks / Q000254:growth & development*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; D010758:Phosphorus; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous