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The Influence of Dietary Alfalfa Meal on the Availability of Phosphorus from Curacao Island Phosphate to the Chick1
104
F. N. REECE AND J. W. DEATON REFERENCES Drury, L. N., R. H. Brown and J. C. Driggers, 1964. Cooling poultry houses in the Southeast. Georgia Ag. Exp. Sta. Bulletin N. S. 115. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Reece, F. N., and J. W. Deaton, 1969. Environmental control for poultry research. Agricultural Engineering, SO: 670-671. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1956. Statistical Methods. The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Winn, P. N., and E. F. Godfrey, 1967. The effect of temperature and moisture on broiler performance. Maryland Ag. Exp. Sta. Bulletin A-153.
The Influence of Dietary Alfalfa Meal on the Availability of Phosphorus from Curacao Island Phosphate to the Chick1 T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS Poultry Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (Received for publication July 6, 1970)
SSAY techniques differ not only in the . calcium and phosphorus content of the assay diet, but also in feedstuffs used in the assay diet and the actual procedures. Ammerman et al. (1960) suggested a fourday depletion period followed by a six-day phosphorus supplementation period for a rapid assay of inorganic phosphates with chicks. Motzok et al. (1967) fed chicks four weeks when studying utilization of calcium and phosphorus from soft phosphate. Damron and Harms (1969) fed chicks the same diet from one to 21 days of age in developing a standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate. Equally as confusing is the variety of feedstuffs used in the assay basal diet. Corn is generally used as the primary energy source, but some workers have used ground
A
1
Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 3623.
yellow corn (Motzok et al., 1967; Nelson and Peeler, 1961) while others have used degerminated corn meal (Ammerman et al., 1960; Dilworth and Day, 1964; Harms et al., 1967). Soybean meal is normally used as the main protein source with protein also being supplied by ingredients such as condensed fish solubles, corn gluten meal, and alfalfa meal (Nelson and Peeler, 1964). Other feedstuffs used have included dried buttermilk, ground wheat, dried whey, cerelose, vegetable oil, hydrogenated fat, and blood meal (Motzok et al., 1956, 1967; Ammerman et al., 1960; Nelson and Peeler, 1961; Dilworth and Day, 1964). Many of these feedstuffs have been reported to have a stimulating or a depressing effect on chick growth. For instance, dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal has been found both to stimulate and to depress growth. Vavich et al. (1953) and Combs et
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on May 14, 2015
countered in summer. This work indicates that when diurnal temperatures vary in the range of 23.9° to 3S°C, limiting temperature to 29.4°C. with evaporative cooling would materially benefit the male body weight, but would have an insignificant effect on female body weight. Under more severe conditions where the diurnal temperature was varied in the 23.9° to 37.8°C. range, limiting temperature to 29.4°C. with evaporative cooling increased both male and female 8-week body weights, with an increase of 128 g. for sexes combined.
DIET COMPOSITION AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY TABLE 1.—Composition of basal A and basal B. Percent of Diet Ingredient Basal A 1
Degerminated corn meal Degerminated corn meal2 Cerelose Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Iodized salt Micro-ingredients3 Variable4
51.70
—
—
54.70 5.40 34.00
5.40 34.00 3.00 0.40 0.50 5.00 0.32 0.205
—
0.40 0.50 5.00 0.31 0.185
1 Pearl Hominy Grits (Dixie Lily Milling Company, Willis ton, Florida). 2 Buckeye Pure Gold yellow corn meal (Quaker Oats Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa). 3 Supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 6600 I.U.; vitamin D 3 , 2200 I.C.U.; vitamin K, 2.2 mg.; riboflavin, 4.4 mg.; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg.; niacin, 39.6 mg.; choline chloride, 499.4 mg.; vitamin Bu, 22 meg.; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 83.6 mg.; iron, 19.8 mg.; copper, 1.98 mg.; cobalt, 198 meg.; iodine, 1.1 mg.; and zinc, 99 meg. 4 Calcium and phosphorus levels were obtained by altering the levels of reagent grade calcium carbonate, Curacao Island phosphate, and white builder's sand.
al. (1954) reported that alfalfa meal contained a factor or factors needed for maximum chick growth, while Lepkovsky et al. (1950) found that alfalfa levels greater than five percent of the diet decreased chick growth rates. They assumed that this decrease was not due to a lower energy or higher fiber level. Dehydrated alfalfa meal is quite rich in minerals and at levels of three percent or higher adds significantly to the mineral content of the basal diet. Samples vary according to locations, but alfalfa normally contains from 1.60 to 1.90 percent calcium and from 0.22 to 0.31 percent phosphorus (Ewing, 1963). Most of the phosphorus in alfalfa is considered to be organic. The National Research Council (1966), in setting the total phosphorus requirement of the starting chick at 0.70 percent of the diet, recommended that at least 0.50 percent of the diet should be inorganic phosphorus.
It is understandable that reports are conflicting when there is such variation in methodology and feedstuffs. In developing a calcium standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate, Damron and Harms (1969) obtained the best response when the lowest possible levels of calcium were used at each level of supplemental phosphorus. Therefore, this research was undertaken to further investigate the phosphorus assay studies reported by Damron and Harms (1969). The major variation from the previous studies was a lowering of the calcium level of the basal diet which was accomplished by the removal of alfalfa from the formulations previously used. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Two identical experiments were conducted using a total of 1920 broiler-type chicks (Peterson X Peterson). The birds were sexed, randomly assigned to treatment groups at one day of age, and received the dietary treatments and tap water ad libitum for 21 days. Each treatment group contained five males and five females and was replicated three times. The chicks were confined in Petersime 2SD six deck thermostatically controlled, electrically heated battery brooders with raised wire floors. Two basal diets were utilized in the experiments and will henceforth be referred to as basal A and basal B. Basal A was composed primarily of degerminated corn meal (Pearl hominy grits) and soybean meal (Table 1). It should be noted that this diet contained three percent alfalfa meal. Damron and Harms (1969) stated that this diet contained 0.30 percent total phosphorus and 0.26 percent calcium. When basal A was analyzed, it was found to contain 0.32 percent total phosphorus and 0.205 percent calcium. Supplemental phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate (13.60 percent phosphorus and 33.90 percent calcium, as indicated by chemical
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on May 14, 2015
Percent total phosphorus Percent calcium
Basal B
105
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T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS
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analysis) was added to basal A to provide for the diets that contained, respectively, total dietary phosphorus levels of 0.39, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental 0.46, and 0.53 percent. Within each phos- phosphorus. phorus level reagent grade calcium carbonAt the termination of each experiment all ate was used to supply incremented levels the birds from each replicate pen were of supplemental calcium. Supplementation group weighed according to sex, and three resulted in five (0.379, 0.429, 0.529, 0.629, males and three females were sacrificed for and 0.729 percent), four (0.554, 0.604, tibia ash determinations. The right tibia 0.704, and 0.804 percent), and four (0.728, was removed from each bird sacrificed, 0.778, 0.878, and 0.978 percent) levels of boiled in water for four minutes, cleaned of total calcium for the diets that contained, adhering muscle tissue and lightly polished respectively, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent with cheesecloth. After drying for 24 hours supplemental phosphorus. One treatment at 100°C, the bones were collectively eigroup received basal A without any supple- ther extracted for 48 hours and then indimental phosphorus or calcium. vidually ashed at 600°C. for six hours. Basal B also consisted primarily of deStatistical analysis (analysis of variance, germinated corn meal (Buckeye Pure Snedecor, 1956) revealed no significant Gold) and soybean meal (Table 1); how- treatment X experiment interaction; ever, it did not contain any alfalfa meal. therefore, the data from the two experiThis ingredient was made from yellow corn ments were combined. Significant differand was used to maintain approximately ences between tibia ash and body weight the same level of xanthophyll in each basal. treatment means were determined by DunThe alfalfa was not analyzed for calcium or can's multiple range test (1955). phosphorus content; however, this diet RESULTS AND DISCUSSION would be expected to be about 0.05 percent lower in calcium and 0.01 percent lower in The data obtained from these experiphosphorus. However, this basal diet was ments are presented in Table 2. These data found by analysis to contain 0.31 percent would indicate that 0.429, 0.604, and 0.728 total phosphorus and 0.185 percent cal- percent calcium levels were best for basal A cium. One treatment group was fed basal B diets supplemented, respectively, with 0.07, without any supplemental phosphorus or 0.14, and 0.21 percent phosphorus from calcium. Another group received basal B Curacao Island phosphate. These are in with calcium carbonate added to give a to- general agreement with the levels suggested tal calcium level of 0.235 percent. Curacao by Damron and Harms (1969). However, Island phosphate was added to basal B to they suggested a calcium level of 0.833 provide total dietary phosphorus levels of when basal A was supplemented with 0.21 0.38, 0.45, and 0.52 percent (0.07, 0.14, percent phosphorus from Curacao Island and 0.21 supplemental phosphorus). Cal- phosphate. It may be noted that they did cium carbonate was added to supply in- not find that 0.833 percent calcium was creasing levels of supplemental calcium better than 0.783 percent; therefore, the within each phosphorus level. Supplemen- 0.833 percent level was suggested since it tation resulted in six (0.359, 0.409, 0.459, allowed for the addition of some calcium 0.559, 0.659, and 0.759 percent), five from a source other than Curacao Island (0.534, 0.584, 0.634, 0.734, and 0.834 per- phosphate. cent), and five (0.708, 0.758, 0.808, 0.908, When basal B was supplemented, respecand 1.008 percent) levels of total calcium tively, with 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent
DIET COMPOSITION AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY
107
mental phosphorus was significant. Similar comparisons of body weights indicate significant differences at supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07 and 0.14 percent. The Total Average Calcium 2 Tibia Ash' Body Weight" calcium levels recommended for basal B (%) (gms.) (%) when supplemented with 0.14 and 0.21 perlm .205 2 7 . .31P1 228.2 cent phosphorus are lower than the levels k gefghi .379 37 ,23 ' 296 k .429 38 .29'J 2 9 6 'yefghi recommended for basal A; however, the rekl .529 37 , 3 6 ' i 310 ide .629 279.2'> 3 4 7 8 mn sponse of basal B diets at these levels is n .729 34.22 286. jfghi significantly lower than those of basal A. jbcde .554 4 1 23cdefg 313 .604 4 1 75bcdef 334.0abo This would indicate that the lowering of .704 4 0 ' 4 7efgh 316. gbcde k .804 37 '.20 l 293.' jefghi the calcium level is not necessary to maxia .728 44 .40 340.0a. mally utilize the phosphorus from Curacao ab ab .778 43 .32 335 . 5 .878 4 2 . 22bcde 310.9cde Island phosphate. hl de .978 40.01'« 310., 3 It should be pointed out that basal B 161.. 2 .185 26.05<1 209.9m .235 2 7 . .75P was 0.01 percent lower in total phosphorus 34.96"m .359 2 8 5 .Ofdu lm due to the removal of alfalfa. Waldroup et .409 281 .lhiJ. 36.,28 klm .459 36., 5 3 2 8 6 gfghi al. (1965) reported that organic phospho.559 34.88™ 2 8 2 •^l .659 3 2 . .23° 260.•3£ rus was equal or superior to inorganic .759 242. g k l 3 1 . .18° 5defg yycdefgh phosphorus in promoting body weight gain .534 40. 307. .584 39 ^ g g h i 3 0 7 3defg in certain dietary formulations. Even con.634 39 9 3 fghl 3 0 3 'gefgh kl .734 37 . 0 4 2 9 8 'yefghi !m sidering the phosphorus in alfalfa to be 100 .834 36.03 282.; 0 h i bc 1 abed percent available will not account for all .708 42. 60 328. .758 42 4^hcd 3 1 1 ' 2 cde bcdet the increase in bone ash. For example, the .808 41 !60 3 0 8 0 def .908 4 0 . yjdefgh 299. yefghi h increasing of supplemental phosphorus 1.008 39.!08 'i 295.^efghi from 0.07 to 0.21 percent in both basals re1 Basal A and B contained 0.32 and 0.31 percent phosphorus, respectively; the remainder was supplied by Curacao Island sulted in an average increase of 6.09 perphosphate. - Basal A and B contained 0.205 and 0.185 percent calcium, cent tibia ash or for every 0.01 percent inrespectively; the remainder was. supplied by Curacao Island phosphate and reagent grade calcium carbonate. crease in phosphorus there was a 0.435 per3 Means with different superscripts are significantly different according to Duncan's multiple range test (P<0.05). cent increase in bone ash. Even when basal B tibia ash values are adjusted by this facphosphorus from Curacao Island phos- tor, the resulting values are still as much as phate, these data indicate that calcium lev- 1.0 percent lower than those values for baels of 0.459, 0.534, and 0.708 percent were sal A. This could indicate that alfalfa meal contains a factor that enhances the utilizabest. The maximum response obtained from tion of phosphorus from Curacao Island basal A and basal B differed significantly phosphate. Feed consumption for both baat each level of supplemental phosphorus. sals was essentially the same; therefore, it Basal A treatment groups had higher body is felt that this factor did not influence the weights and tibia ash than similarly supple- results. mented basal B treatment groups. ConsidSUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ering the best response for supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07 and 0.14 percent, Two experiments were conducted to detibia ash differences were respectively 1.76 termine the influence of diet composition and 0.98 percent. The 1.80 percent tibia on phosphorus availability. Basal A diet ash difference at the 0.21 percent supple- contained three percent alfalfa meal while TABLE 2.—Tibia ash and body weight of chicks fed diets supplemented with various levels of reagent grade calcium carbonate and Curacao Island phosphate
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T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS
REFERENCES Ammerman, C. B., H. W. Norton and H. M. Scott, 1960. Rapid assay of inorganic phosphates for chicks. Poultry Sci. 39: 245-250. Combs, G. F., B. G. Sweet, H. L. Jones, G. L. Ramoser and R. W. Bishop, 1954. Multiplicity
of unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. Poultry Sci. 3 3 : 1050. Damron, B. L., and R. H. Harms, 1969. A comparison of phosphorus assay techniques with chicks. 6. Development of a calcium standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate. Poultry Sci. 48: 1618-1621. Dilworth, B. C , and E. J. Day, 1964. Phosphorus availability studies with feed grade phosphates. Poultry Sci. 43 : 1039-1044. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Ewing, W. R., 1963. Poultry Nutrition, 5th ed. The Ray Ewing Company, Pasadena, California. Harms, R. H., P. W. Waldroup and B. L. Damron, 1967. A comparison of phosphorus assay techniques. 2. Development of a calcium standard curve for monosodium phosphate. Poultry Sci. 46: 981-985. Lepkovsky, S. W. Shaeleff, D. Peterson and R. Perry, 1950. Alfalfa inhibitor in chick rations. Poultry Sci. 29: 208-213. Motzok, I., D. Authur and H. D. Branion, 1956. Utilization of phosphorus from various phosphate supplements by chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 627-649. Motzok, I., D. Arthur and S. J. Slinger, 1967. Utilization of calcium and phosphorus from soft phosphate by chicks. Poultry Sci. 46: 985-991. National Research Council, 1966. Nutrient requirements of domestic animals. Nutrient requirements for poultry. Washington, D.C. Nelson, T. S., and H. T. Peeler, 1961. The availability of phosphorus from single and combined phosphates to chicks. Poultry Sci. 40: 13211328. Nelson, T. S., and H. T. Peeler, 1964. Current status of biological testing of feed phosphates. Feedstuffs, 36(11) : 32. Snedecor, G. W., 1956. Statistical Methods, 5th ed. The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Vavich, M. G., A. Wertz and A. R. Kemmerer, 1953. Growth-stimulating factors in alfalfa for chicks. Poultry Sci. 32: 433-436. Waldroup, P. W., C. B. Ammerman and R. H. Harms, 1965. The availability of phytic acid phosphorus for chicks. 4. The availability of natural plant phosphorus. Poultry Sci. 44: 880-886.
APRIL 15-17. 6TH INTERNATIONAL ZOOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, MILAN, ITALY.
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basal B did not contain any alfalfa. Curacao Island phosphate was added to each basal to give supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent. Reagent grade calcium carbonate was added to give varying levels of calcium. These diets were fed to broiler-type chicks from one to 21 days of age. Tibia ash and body weight data were used to determine the calcium requirement at each phosphorus level. Calcium levels of 0.429, 0.604, and 0.728 percent were selected for use when basal A contained, respectively, total phosphorus levels of 0.39, 0.46, and 0.53 percent (0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental phosphorus). When basal B contained 0.38, 0.45, and 0.52 percent total phosphorus (0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental phosphorus), calcium levels selected were 0.459, 0.534, and 0.708 percent, respectively. Since the maximum response of basal B was lower than that of basal A, the lower calcium levels of basal B did not enhance the utilization of phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate. Alfalfa stimulated an increase in body weight and tibia ash that was not explained by the higher phosphorus level in basal A. These data indicate that the phosphorus in alfalfa meal is highly available and may be interpreted to indicate that alfalfa meal contains a factor that promotes the utilization of phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate.
F. N. REECE AND J. W. DEATON REFERENCES Drury, L. N., R. H. Brown and J. C. Driggers, 1964. Cooling poultry houses in the Southeast. Georgia Ag. Exp. Sta. Bulletin N. S. 115. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Reece, F. N., and J. W. Deaton, 1969. Environmental control for poultry research. Agricultural Engineering, SO: 670-671. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1956. Statistical Methods. The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Winn, P. N., and E. F. Godfrey, 1967. The effect of temperature and moisture on broiler performance. Maryland Ag. Exp. Sta. Bulletin A-153.
The Influence of Dietary Alfalfa Meal on the Availability of Phosphorus from Curacao Island Phosphate to the Chick1 T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS Poultry Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (Received for publication July 6, 1970)
SSAY techniques differ not only in the . calcium and phosphorus content of the assay diet, but also in feedstuffs used in the assay diet and the actual procedures. Ammerman et al. (1960) suggested a fourday depletion period followed by a six-day phosphorus supplementation period for a rapid assay of inorganic phosphates with chicks. Motzok et al. (1967) fed chicks four weeks when studying utilization of calcium and phosphorus from soft phosphate. Damron and Harms (1969) fed chicks the same diet from one to 21 days of age in developing a standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate. Equally as confusing is the variety of feedstuffs used in the assay basal diet. Corn is generally used as the primary energy source, but some workers have used ground
A
1
Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 3623.
yellow corn (Motzok et al., 1967; Nelson and Peeler, 1961) while others have used degerminated corn meal (Ammerman et al., 1960; Dilworth and Day, 1964; Harms et al., 1967). Soybean meal is normally used as the main protein source with protein also being supplied by ingredients such as condensed fish solubles, corn gluten meal, and alfalfa meal (Nelson and Peeler, 1964). Other feedstuffs used have included dried buttermilk, ground wheat, dried whey, cerelose, vegetable oil, hydrogenated fat, and blood meal (Motzok et al., 1956, 1967; Ammerman et al., 1960; Nelson and Peeler, 1961; Dilworth and Day, 1964). Many of these feedstuffs have been reported to have a stimulating or a depressing effect on chick growth. For instance, dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal has been found both to stimulate and to depress growth. Vavich et al. (1953) and Combs et
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on May 14, 2015
countered in summer. This work indicates that when diurnal temperatures vary in the range of 23.9° to 3S°C, limiting temperature to 29.4°C. with evaporative cooling would materially benefit the male body weight, but would have an insignificant effect on female body weight. Under more severe conditions where the diurnal temperature was varied in the 23.9° to 37.8°C. range, limiting temperature to 29.4°C. with evaporative cooling increased both male and female 8-week body weights, with an increase of 128 g. for sexes combined.
DIET COMPOSITION AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY TABLE 1.—Composition of basal A and basal B. Percent of Diet Ingredient Basal A 1
Degerminated corn meal Degerminated corn meal2 Cerelose Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Iodized salt Micro-ingredients3 Variable4
51.70
—
—
54.70 5.40 34.00
5.40 34.00 3.00 0.40 0.50 5.00 0.32 0.205
—
0.40 0.50 5.00 0.31 0.185
1 Pearl Hominy Grits (Dixie Lily Milling Company, Willis ton, Florida). 2 Buckeye Pure Gold yellow corn meal (Quaker Oats Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa). 3 Supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 6600 I.U.; vitamin D 3 , 2200 I.C.U.; vitamin K, 2.2 mg.; riboflavin, 4.4 mg.; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg.; niacin, 39.6 mg.; choline chloride, 499.4 mg.; vitamin Bu, 22 meg.; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 83.6 mg.; iron, 19.8 mg.; copper, 1.98 mg.; cobalt, 198 meg.; iodine, 1.1 mg.; and zinc, 99 meg. 4 Calcium and phosphorus levels were obtained by altering the levels of reagent grade calcium carbonate, Curacao Island phosphate, and white builder's sand.
al. (1954) reported that alfalfa meal contained a factor or factors needed for maximum chick growth, while Lepkovsky et al. (1950) found that alfalfa levels greater than five percent of the diet decreased chick growth rates. They assumed that this decrease was not due to a lower energy or higher fiber level. Dehydrated alfalfa meal is quite rich in minerals and at levels of three percent or higher adds significantly to the mineral content of the basal diet. Samples vary according to locations, but alfalfa normally contains from 1.60 to 1.90 percent calcium and from 0.22 to 0.31 percent phosphorus (Ewing, 1963). Most of the phosphorus in alfalfa is considered to be organic. The National Research Council (1966), in setting the total phosphorus requirement of the starting chick at 0.70 percent of the diet, recommended that at least 0.50 percent of the diet should be inorganic phosphorus.
It is understandable that reports are conflicting when there is such variation in methodology and feedstuffs. In developing a calcium standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate, Damron and Harms (1969) obtained the best response when the lowest possible levels of calcium were used at each level of supplemental phosphorus. Therefore, this research was undertaken to further investigate the phosphorus assay studies reported by Damron and Harms (1969). The major variation from the previous studies was a lowering of the calcium level of the basal diet which was accomplished by the removal of alfalfa from the formulations previously used. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Two identical experiments were conducted using a total of 1920 broiler-type chicks (Peterson X Peterson). The birds were sexed, randomly assigned to treatment groups at one day of age, and received the dietary treatments and tap water ad libitum for 21 days. Each treatment group contained five males and five females and was replicated three times. The chicks were confined in Petersime 2SD six deck thermostatically controlled, electrically heated battery brooders with raised wire floors. Two basal diets were utilized in the experiments and will henceforth be referred to as basal A and basal B. Basal A was composed primarily of degerminated corn meal (Pearl hominy grits) and soybean meal (Table 1). It should be noted that this diet contained three percent alfalfa meal. Damron and Harms (1969) stated that this diet contained 0.30 percent total phosphorus and 0.26 percent calcium. When basal A was analyzed, it was found to contain 0.32 percent total phosphorus and 0.205 percent calcium. Supplemental phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate (13.60 percent phosphorus and 33.90 percent calcium, as indicated by chemical
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on May 14, 2015
Percent total phosphorus Percent calcium
Basal B
105
106
T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS
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analysis) was added to basal A to provide for the diets that contained, respectively, total dietary phosphorus levels of 0.39, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental 0.46, and 0.53 percent. Within each phos- phosphorus. phorus level reagent grade calcium carbonAt the termination of each experiment all ate was used to supply incremented levels the birds from each replicate pen were of supplemental calcium. Supplementation group weighed according to sex, and three resulted in five (0.379, 0.429, 0.529, 0.629, males and three females were sacrificed for and 0.729 percent), four (0.554, 0.604, tibia ash determinations. The right tibia 0.704, and 0.804 percent), and four (0.728, was removed from each bird sacrificed, 0.778, 0.878, and 0.978 percent) levels of boiled in water for four minutes, cleaned of total calcium for the diets that contained, adhering muscle tissue and lightly polished respectively, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent with cheesecloth. After drying for 24 hours supplemental phosphorus. One treatment at 100°C, the bones were collectively eigroup received basal A without any supple- ther extracted for 48 hours and then indimental phosphorus or calcium. vidually ashed at 600°C. for six hours. Basal B also consisted primarily of deStatistical analysis (analysis of variance, germinated corn meal (Buckeye Pure Snedecor, 1956) revealed no significant Gold) and soybean meal (Table 1); how- treatment X experiment interaction; ever, it did not contain any alfalfa meal. therefore, the data from the two experiThis ingredient was made from yellow corn ments were combined. Significant differand was used to maintain approximately ences between tibia ash and body weight the same level of xanthophyll in each basal. treatment means were determined by DunThe alfalfa was not analyzed for calcium or can's multiple range test (1955). phosphorus content; however, this diet RESULTS AND DISCUSSION would be expected to be about 0.05 percent lower in calcium and 0.01 percent lower in The data obtained from these experiphosphorus. However, this basal diet was ments are presented in Table 2. These data found by analysis to contain 0.31 percent would indicate that 0.429, 0.604, and 0.728 total phosphorus and 0.185 percent cal- percent calcium levels were best for basal A cium. One treatment group was fed basal B diets supplemented, respectively, with 0.07, without any supplemental phosphorus or 0.14, and 0.21 percent phosphorus from calcium. Another group received basal B Curacao Island phosphate. These are in with calcium carbonate added to give a to- general agreement with the levels suggested tal calcium level of 0.235 percent. Curacao by Damron and Harms (1969). However, Island phosphate was added to basal B to they suggested a calcium level of 0.833 provide total dietary phosphorus levels of when basal A was supplemented with 0.21 0.38, 0.45, and 0.52 percent (0.07, 0.14, percent phosphorus from Curacao Island and 0.21 supplemental phosphorus). Cal- phosphate. It may be noted that they did cium carbonate was added to supply in- not find that 0.833 percent calcium was creasing levels of supplemental calcium better than 0.783 percent; therefore, the within each phosphorus level. Supplemen- 0.833 percent level was suggested since it tation resulted in six (0.359, 0.409, 0.459, allowed for the addition of some calcium 0.559, 0.659, and 0.759 percent), five from a source other than Curacao Island (0.534, 0.584, 0.634, 0.734, and 0.834 per- phosphate. cent), and five (0.708, 0.758, 0.808, 0.908, When basal B was supplemented, respecand 1.008 percent) levels of total calcium tively, with 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent
DIET COMPOSITION AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY
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mental phosphorus was significant. Similar comparisons of body weights indicate significant differences at supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07 and 0.14 percent. The Total Average Calcium 2 Tibia Ash' Body Weight" calcium levels recommended for basal B (%) (gms.) (%) when supplemented with 0.14 and 0.21 perlm .205 2 7 . .31P1 228.2 cent phosphorus are lower than the levels k gefghi .379 37 ,23 ' 296 k .429 38 .29'J 2 9 6 'yefghi recommended for basal A; however, the rekl .529 37 , 3 6 ' i 310 ide .629 279.2'> 3 4 7 8 mn sponse of basal B diets at these levels is n .729 34.22 286. jfghi significantly lower than those of basal A. jbcde .554 4 1 23cdefg 313 .604 4 1 75bcdef 334.0abo This would indicate that the lowering of .704 4 0 ' 4 7efgh 316. gbcde k .804 37 '.20 l 293.' jefghi the calcium level is not necessary to maxia .728 44 .40 340.0a. mally utilize the phosphorus from Curacao ab ab .778 43 .32 335 . 5 .878 4 2 . 22bcde 310.9cde Island phosphate. hl de .978 40.01'« 310., 3 It should be pointed out that basal B 161.. 2 .185 26.05<1 209.9m .235 2 7 . .75P was 0.01 percent lower in total phosphorus 34.96"m .359 2 8 5 .Ofdu lm due to the removal of alfalfa. Waldroup et .409 281 .lhiJ. 36.,28 klm .459 36., 5 3 2 8 6 gfghi al. (1965) reported that organic phospho.559 34.88™ 2 8 2 •^l .659 3 2 . .23° 260.•3£ rus was equal or superior to inorganic .759 242. g k l 3 1 . .18° 5defg yycdefgh phosphorus in promoting body weight gain .534 40. 307. .584 39 ^ g g h i 3 0 7 3defg in certain dietary formulations. Even con.634 39 9 3 fghl 3 0 3 'gefgh kl .734 37 . 0 4 2 9 8 'yefghi !m sidering the phosphorus in alfalfa to be 100 .834 36.03 282.; 0 h i bc 1 abed percent available will not account for all .708 42. 60 328. .758 42 4^hcd 3 1 1 ' 2 cde bcdet the increase in bone ash. For example, the .808 41 !60 3 0 8 0 def .908 4 0 . yjdefgh 299. yefghi h increasing of supplemental phosphorus 1.008 39.!08 'i 295.^efghi from 0.07 to 0.21 percent in both basals re1 Basal A and B contained 0.32 and 0.31 percent phosphorus, respectively; the remainder was supplied by Curacao Island sulted in an average increase of 6.09 perphosphate. - Basal A and B contained 0.205 and 0.185 percent calcium, cent tibia ash or for every 0.01 percent inrespectively; the remainder was. supplied by Curacao Island phosphate and reagent grade calcium carbonate. crease in phosphorus there was a 0.435 per3 Means with different superscripts are significantly different according to Duncan's multiple range test (P<0.05). cent increase in bone ash. Even when basal B tibia ash values are adjusted by this facphosphorus from Curacao Island phos- tor, the resulting values are still as much as phate, these data indicate that calcium lev- 1.0 percent lower than those values for baels of 0.459, 0.534, and 0.708 percent were sal A. This could indicate that alfalfa meal contains a factor that enhances the utilizabest. The maximum response obtained from tion of phosphorus from Curacao Island basal A and basal B differed significantly phosphate. Feed consumption for both baat each level of supplemental phosphorus. sals was essentially the same; therefore, it Basal A treatment groups had higher body is felt that this factor did not influence the weights and tibia ash than similarly supple- results. mented basal B treatment groups. ConsidSUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ering the best response for supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07 and 0.14 percent, Two experiments were conducted to detibia ash differences were respectively 1.76 termine the influence of diet composition and 0.98 percent. The 1.80 percent tibia on phosphorus availability. Basal A diet ash difference at the 0.21 percent supple- contained three percent alfalfa meal while TABLE 2.—Tibia ash and body weight of chicks fed diets supplemented with various levels of reagent grade calcium carbonate and Curacao Island phosphate
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T. L. ANDREWS, B. L. DAMRON AND R. H. HARMS
REFERENCES Ammerman, C. B., H. W. Norton and H. M. Scott, 1960. Rapid assay of inorganic phosphates for chicks. Poultry Sci. 39: 245-250. Combs, G. F., B. G. Sweet, H. L. Jones, G. L. Ramoser and R. W. Bishop, 1954. Multiplicity
of unidentified growth factors required by chicks and poults. Poultry Sci. 3 3 : 1050. Damron, B. L., and R. H. Harms, 1969. A comparison of phosphorus assay techniques with chicks. 6. Development of a calcium standard curve for Curacao Island phosphate. Poultry Sci. 48: 1618-1621. Dilworth, B. C , and E. J. Day, 1964. Phosphorus availability studies with feed grade phosphates. Poultry Sci. 43 : 1039-1044. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Ewing, W. R., 1963. Poultry Nutrition, 5th ed. The Ray Ewing Company, Pasadena, California. Harms, R. H., P. W. Waldroup and B. L. Damron, 1967. A comparison of phosphorus assay techniques. 2. Development of a calcium standard curve for monosodium phosphate. Poultry Sci. 46: 981-985. Lepkovsky, S. W. Shaeleff, D. Peterson and R. Perry, 1950. Alfalfa inhibitor in chick rations. Poultry Sci. 29: 208-213. Motzok, I., D. Authur and H. D. Branion, 1956. Utilization of phosphorus from various phosphate supplements by chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 627-649. Motzok, I., D. Arthur and S. J. Slinger, 1967. Utilization of calcium and phosphorus from soft phosphate by chicks. Poultry Sci. 46: 985-991. National Research Council, 1966. Nutrient requirements of domestic animals. Nutrient requirements for poultry. Washington, D.C. Nelson, T. S., and H. T. Peeler, 1961. The availability of phosphorus from single and combined phosphates to chicks. Poultry Sci. 40: 13211328. Nelson, T. S., and H. T. Peeler, 1964. Current status of biological testing of feed phosphates. Feedstuffs, 36(11) : 32. Snedecor, G. W., 1956. Statistical Methods, 5th ed. The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Vavich, M. G., A. Wertz and A. R. Kemmerer, 1953. Growth-stimulating factors in alfalfa for chicks. Poultry Sci. 32: 433-436. Waldroup, P. W., C. B. Ammerman and R. H. Harms, 1965. The availability of phytic acid phosphorus for chicks. 4. The availability of natural plant phosphorus. Poultry Sci. 44: 880-886.
APRIL 15-17. 6TH INTERNATIONAL ZOOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, MILAN, ITALY.
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basal B did not contain any alfalfa. Curacao Island phosphate was added to each basal to give supplemental phosphorus levels of 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent. Reagent grade calcium carbonate was added to give varying levels of calcium. These diets were fed to broiler-type chicks from one to 21 days of age. Tibia ash and body weight data were used to determine the calcium requirement at each phosphorus level. Calcium levels of 0.429, 0.604, and 0.728 percent were selected for use when basal A contained, respectively, total phosphorus levels of 0.39, 0.46, and 0.53 percent (0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental phosphorus). When basal B contained 0.38, 0.45, and 0.52 percent total phosphorus (0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 percent supplemental phosphorus), calcium levels selected were 0.459, 0.534, and 0.708 percent, respectively. Since the maximum response of basal B was lower than that of basal A, the lower calcium levels of basal B did not enhance the utilization of phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate. Alfalfa stimulated an increase in body weight and tibia ash that was not explained by the higher phosphorus level in basal A. These data indicate that the phosphorus in alfalfa meal is highly available and may be interpreted to indicate that alfalfa meal contains a factor that promotes the utilization of phosphorus from Curacao Island phosphate.