True absorption of phosphorus from di calcium phosphate, mono ammonium phosphate, triple superphosphate and urea-phosphate in bovine by the radio phosphorus dilution technique

With the aim to study the utilization of alternative sources of phosphorus by ruminants. Twenty four males steers, with 250 Kg live weight and 18 months of age, were allocated in four groups of six animals each. The animals were housed in individual pens and received a diet containing chopped hay, corn and soybean meal, urea and mineral mixtures. The phosphate sources were added to supply 10 g of phosphorus per animal daily. The animals were injected intravenously and individually with 37 MBq of P-32 (N A2 H P O4) at the 20th day of the experimental trial into the jugular vein. Blood and faces were collected and sampled at 24 hours intervals, for 8 days. Based on the specific activities in plasma and faces, the fecal endogenous loss and true phosphorus absorption were determined. (author)