Results of 15 Years of Precision Feeding of Hyper Prolific Gestating Sows

The increase in prolificacy at weaning is less than that at farrowing due to increased loss of piglets. As a result, farmers focus more on solutions that can prevent difficult parturition or a decrease in milk production. The body condition of the sow influences both factors. A model developed to estimate energy requirements of gestating sows was used to monitor the body weight and back fat thickness (BT) at farrowing, through the creation of a demonstration farm that included 7 batches of 24 sows. Daily feed allowance was adapted to characteristics of each sow at the beginning of gestation. Based on data collected since 2005 from 5140 gestations in different housing systems, the BT averaged 19.3 mm at farrowing, with no significant differences among housing systems. Within-batch variability in BT ranged from 3–4 mm and is expected to improve in the future by using sensors to automatically weigh and measure physical activity towards a real-time assessment of energy requirements. The next step in reducing feed costs and environmental impacts is to consider amino-acid and phosphorus requirements in the precision-feeding strategy.

Estimation of phosphorus requirements of sows based on 24-h urinary phosphorus excretion during gestation and lactation

Phosphorus requirements of reproducing sows were estimated using 24-h urinary P excretion. Thirty-six multiparous sows were fed one of six maize–soybean meal-based diets with total P ranging from 0·40 to 0·80 % in 0·08 % increments with a constant Ca:total P ratio (1·25:1). Diets were fed from day 7·5 ± 1 after breeding until the end of lactation (day 26 ± 1). Urine samples were collected in mid and late gestation (days 77·1 ± 2 and 112·4 ± 1) and early and late lactation (days 4·5 ± 1 and 18·2 ± 1). Phosphorus requirements were estimated using linear and nonlinear regression models. Based on a single 24-h urinary P excretion, estimated daily dietary total P requirements in mid and late gestation were 10·3 g (6·0 g standardised total tract digestible P, STTD P), and estimates for early and late lactation were 31·1 g (16·6 g STTD P) and 40·3 g (22·1 g STTD P), respectively. Plasma P and Ca concentrations were maintained within normal ranges at the estimated levels of P requirements. No differences among treatments were observed for plasma parathyroid hormone (P ≥ 0·06) and bone formation marker (P ≥ 0·16). In lactation, bone resorption marker decreased (P ≤ 0·001) as sows consumed more P. Among the analysed variables, urinary P was the most sensitive response to changes in dietary P intake. Urinary P excretion offers a practical method to estimate P requirements in sows. Our recommended daily total P requirements are 10·3 g for gestation and 35·7 g for lactation.

Update on Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Preterm Infants and Recommendations for Enteral Mineral Intake

Background: With current Ca and P recommendations for enteral nutrition, preterm infants, especially VLBW, fail to achieve a bone mineral content (BMC) equivalent to term infants. During the first 3 years, most notably in light at term equivalent age (<−2 Z score) VLBW infants’ BMC does not catch up. In adults born preterm with VLBW or SGA, lower adult bone mass, lower peak bone mass, and higher frequency of osteopenia/osteoporosis have been found, implying an increased risk for future bone fractures. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide recommendation for enteral mineral intake for improving bone mineral accretion. Methods: Current preterm infant mineral recommendations together with fetal and preterm infant physiology of mineral accretion were reviewed to provide recommendations for improving bone mineral accretion. Results: Current Ca and P recommendations systematically underestimate the needs, especially for Ca. Conclusion: Higher enteral fortifier/formula mineral content or individual supplementation is required. Higher general mineral intake (especially Ca) will most likely improve bone mineralization in preterm infants and possibly the long-term bone health. However, the nephrocalcinosis risk may increase in infants with high Ca absorption. Therefore, individual additional enteral Ca and/or P supplementations are recommended to improve current fortifier/formula mineral intake.

274 Determination of phosphorus requirement of lactating sows based on 24-hour urinary phosphorus excretion

The objective was to determine phosphorus (P) requirement of lactating sows using 24-hour urinary P excretion as the response criteria. The underlying assumption was that urinary P remains low and constant until the requirements are met then increases as P consumption increases. Thirty-six crossbred PIC Camborough sows (parity 3 to 7) were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 corn-soybean-meal diets with increasing dietary total P (tP) levels (0.40, 0.48, 0.56, 0.64, 0.72, and 0.80%) and a constant calcium (Ca) to tP ratio (1.25:1). Diets were fed from breeding until the end of lactation. Urine and blood samples were collected on days 4 and 18 of lactation and analyzed for P and Ca concentrations. Data were analyzed using MIXED and NLIN procedures of SAS. Phosphorus requirements were estimated using a broken-line regression model. Plasma Ca (ranging from 12.1 to 10.3 mg/dL) was not affected by dietary treatments, and was maintained within the normal physiological range on day 4 and 18 of lactation. Plasma P (ranging from 2.9 to 6.4 mg/dL) linearly increased (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing dietary tP levels on day 4 and 18 of lactation. Only sows fed the 0.40% tP diet failed to maintain plasma P concentrations within the normal physiological range. Clinical signs of P and Ca deficiencies were not observed. Differences in sow and litter performance among treatments were not detected. A nonlinear response of urinary P excretion to dietary P intake was observed. Based on a broken-line linear model fit to 24-hour urinary P excretion, minimum tP requirements of sows at day 4 and 18 of lactation were 0.47 and 0.54%, respectively. In conclusion, 24-hour urine P excretion provided sensitive criteria for estimates of tP requirements in lactating sows. Efforts to adjust heteroscedasticity for animals fed dietary P above the estimated requirement need further evaluation.

Phosphorus requirement for juvenile jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) on a semi-purified diet

The aim of the present study was to determine the total phosphorus requirement in the diet of jundiá fry (Rhamdia quelen) in a semi-purified diet. A quantitative experimental research was carried out, using dehydrated albumin as a protein source, with the supplementation of monobasic sodium phosphate at different levels: 0.04; 0.30; 0.47 and 0.70% of total phosphorus (P). 160 fish with an average weight of 1.20 ± 0.53g were used in an experimental or completely randomized design, with four treatments and four replications. The experiment lasted 33 days. To determine the phosphorus requirements for juveniles, body chemical composition, bone mineral composition and productive performance parameters were evaluated. The body chemical composition only the levels of protein did not present significant difference (p˃0.05). The levels of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in the bones increased linearly, with increased levels of phosphorus in the diet. Based on weight gain and total length, the requirement for phosphorus for juveniles of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) in a semipurified diet is between 0.53 - 0 5.8% of P-total.