A fecal test for assessing phosphorus overfeeding on dairy farms: evaluation using extensive farm data.
Managing P on dairy farms requires the assessment and monitoring of P status of the animals so that potential overfeeding may be minimized. Numerous published studies have demonstrated that for lactating dairy cows, increasing P concentrations in diets led to greater P excretion in feces. More recent work reported that inorganic P (P(i)) in 0.1% HCl extracts of feces (fecal extract P(i), g/kg) closely reflects dietary P changes. This has led to the proposal that 0.1% HCl fecal extract P(i) may serve as an indicator of the animal's P status (adequate or excessive) when compared with a benchmark value. Here, we present the results of an extensive evaluation of the proposed fecal P indicator test. With samples (n=575) from >90 farms, fecal total P (TP, g/kg) and fecal extract P were positively correlated with dietary P (X, g/kg): TP=1.92X - 0.17 (R2=0.36); fecal extract P=1.82X - 2.54 (R2=0.46). Fecal extract P was responsive to dietary P changes, whereas the remaining P, calculated as TP minus fecal extract P, was not. A provisional benchmark value of fecal extract P representing near-adequate P status was set at 4.75g/kg. Assessment of the farm data using the benchmark indicated that 316 out of 575 data points were associated with possible P overfeeding. Advantages of the fecal-based test over feed-based analysis to assess P status are discussed. The fecal extract P method is a simple and practical test that can be used as an assessment tool for helping dairy producers improve P management and reduce their environmental footprint.
Dou
Z
Z
Section of Animal Production Systems, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square 19348. douzheng@vet.upenn.edu
Ramberg
C F
CF
Chapuis-Lardy
L
L
Toth
J D
JD
Wu
Z
Z
Chase
L E
LE
Kohn
R A
RA
Knowlton
K F
KF
Ferguson
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D010758:Phosphorus