New Dietary Phosphorus Findings Featured at Focus on the Future Conference (March 7, 2005)

Saskatoon, SK., March 4, 2005: Overfeeding phosphorus results in increased diet costs and additional phosphorus in the manure, both of which are primary concerns of pork producers. Dr. Denise Beaulieu has recently completed work on the utilization of phytase enzyme to address these concerns, and developing recommendations for pork producers which lowers cost and reduces phosphorus output.


“Phosphorus requirements of the pig are not well known for the high growth and lean genetics which dominate today’s marketplace. Compounding this is a wide variation and poor phosphorus digestibility of our common feedstuffs like barley” notes Dr. Beaulieu. “Because up to 70% of the phosphorus in the diet may not be available to the animal, modifying the diet through the addition of enzymes which increases the bioavailability to the pig, and reduces phosphorus content of manure is an attractive option”. The most recent trial conducted at the Prairie Swine Centre showed a close relationship between how much enzyme is added to the diet and how much phosphorus is digested, moving from as little as 20% to over 55% of the total phosphorus in the diet, or more than a 2.5 fold improvement.


Economical use of the phytase enzyme is dependent on current market prices. Over the past 6 months as grain and protein prices have fallen, the economic benefit has declined somewhat, however there is still a net benefit of at least $0.33 per pig. “Put another way, a farm with 3,000 sows would save over $24,000 annually by making use of this enzyme” concludes Beaulieu. “The economic benefits are substantial, moreover it provides producers with more options of where to incorporate their manure in their nutrient management farm plan.”


Additional information about the conference is available at the Centre’s website or by calling 306-373-9922.


Prairie Swine Centre Inc., located in Saskatoon, is a non-profit research corporation affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and is recognized globally for its contributions to practical, applied science in pork production in the disciplines of Nutrition, Engineering and Animal Behaviour.


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For more information, contact:
Lee Whittington
Manager, Information Services
Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
Phone: 306-667-7447
Fax: 306-955-2510
E-mail: Whittington@sask.usask.ca


Ken Engele
Assistant Manager, Information Services
Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
Phone: 306-667-7446
Fax: 306-955-2510
E-mail: engelek@sask.usask.ca


Dr. Denise Beaulieu
Research Assistant
Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
Phone: 306-667-7441
E-mail: Beaulieu@sask.usask.ca