Phosphorus is an essential element involved in energy and nutrient metabolism. The deficiency of this mineral negatively affects animal performance, fertility and bone mineralisation.

The importance of phosphorus

Eighty to 85% of phosphorus (P) is found in the bones and teeth. This means that P, in conjunction with calcium, provides bones with the strength necessary for normal activities such as walking. Phosphorus in bones also functions as an important reservoir for resorption when body requirements temporarily exceed dietary intake.

Phosphorus can also be found in the body fluids and soft tissue. It plays an important role in metabolic processes and has many other physiological functions, such as maintenance of skeletal tissue, growth, appetite control, fertility and energy, and feed utilisation than any other mineral.

Because this mineral is found in soft tissues, it is essential for a wide variety of enzymatic reactions, especially those concerned with energy metabolism and transfer.

Phosphorus. The mineral is also important in the transfer of genetic information and is a vital component of the body’s various fluid buffering systems.

Supplementation of phosphorus

Phosphorus is frequently found in insufficient quantities in common feedstuffs fed to grazing cattle and sheep as well as animals kept in enclosures such as pigs and poultry. Supplementation of P with inorganic feed phosphate sources has therefore become common practice in livestock feeding.

Until the late 1940s, bone meal and soft phosphate rock used to be the main mineral P supplements in animal feeds. The ban on the use of bone meal as well as the steep increase in the demand for high-Phosphorus supplements, however, has led to various approaches to produce inorganic P products with the highest possible P content.

 

Inorganic Phosphorus supplements

Today, a large number of different inorganic feed phosphates are used as dietary P supplements. It must, however, be stressed that not all inorganic P sources are the same in terms of quality and can differ greatly in properties such as chemical composition, physical appearance, undesirable element content and also, very importantly, bioavailability (digestibility) of P. It is therefore vital to have a sound knowledge of the differences between the products in order to make a well-informed choice.

Chemical Composition – Use a product whose chemical composition is not only according to the correct specification, but is also consistent and can be guaranteed by the manufacturer.

To fulfil this requirement, Yara Animal Nutrition has its own laboratory where analyses are done on a daily basis, and the company can provide clients with a certificate of analysis for every shipment.

Physical appearance – products should not be dusty or powdery. Yara Animal Nutrition’s P products are in an ideal granular form, making it dust free, free flowing and easy to handle.

Undesirable elements – elements such as fluorine, cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury, come from the kind of rock from which phosphoric acid is produced. In contrast, Yara Animal Nutrition uses de-fluorinated phosphoric acid, which means that the products are especially low in fluorine and cadmium, and other undesirable elements.

Bioavailability – or biological availability/digestibility is used to describe to what extent an animal can utilise a given nutrient – in this case P. Knowing the bioavailability of a P source is important, as this makes it possible to optimise feed formulation according to animals’ requirements for digestible P, instead of formulating for total P. As a result, the cost of raw materials can be reduced due to less inorganic P being added to the diet. This will lead to less P being excreted by the animals, hence significantly reducing environmental P pollution.

Let Yara help you make the right choice for your livestock’s optimal health

Phosphorus is a macro mineral involved in many physiological functions in the body. Supplementation of P is essential for optimal production and reproduction of all farm animals.

Since there are so many different inorganic feed phosphate sources available to clients, it is important to know what to look for in a P source in order to be able to choose the best value option for their money.

For more information on Yara Animal Feeds’ impressive products and to find an agent in your area, visit yara.co.za