The Quality of Feed Phosphate

The quality of a feed phosphate is determined by the total phosphorus content and its absorbability. In other words, the total amount of P which is available to be used (absorbed) by the animal. Although current formulation systems assume a 100% absorbability for all the inorganic feed phosphates, current research demonstrated differences in absorbability of P content among different types of phosphate. Moreover, significant differences in P absorbability can also be found among phosphates of the same chemical family because of their raw material origin, production process and presence of undigestible compounds.

In 2016 a study was carried by the Wageningen University with 480 male Ross 308 broilers to determine the pre-caecal P absorbability of several inorganic P sources, following the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA) protocol. Each experimental diet contained one of the inorganic P sources: monocalcium phosphate (MCP), monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and defluorinated phosphate (DFP). Three of the 4 inorganic P sources (MCP, MDCP and DCP) represented a mix of batches from different suppliers. The calculated content of Ca and P in all the test diets was equal, and the ratio was 1.35:1 for all of them. At the end of the experiment, the content of the distal part of the small intestine (ileum) was sampled. Among the four inorganic feed phosphates, MCP was the one with the highest total P content (22.7%). In addition, MCP shown the greatest pre-caecal absorbability of P providing therefore, the greatest amount of absorbable P per kg of product.

Another study was conducted by Wageningen UR Livestock Research, at the requested of the Inorganic Feed Phosphate sector group of CEFIC and Yara International, to determine the pre-caecal P absorbability of a mixture of several MCP products available in the market compared to BOLIFOR® MCP in broilers. From day 17, birds were housed in groups of 12 per pen. Sixteen pens were allotted to the basal diet and 6 pens were allotted to each of the experimental diets. Diets were formulated to meet of exceed the CVB requirements for all nutrients except Ca and P.

Broilers receiving diets including BOLIFOR® MCP showed similar daily weight gain and feed intake to other participants, but their feed conversion ratio was improved by 2% when given BOLIFOR® MCP.

Broilers fed BOLIFOR® MCP achieved the maximal P absorbability compared to broilers fed the mixture of different MCP (80.2% vs. 78.3% respectively). According to this data BOLIFOR® MCP provides 2% more absorbable P per kg of product than an average MCP product.

In line with our mission to responsibly feed the world and protect our planet, Yara seeks to maximize livestock production efficiency by offering feed phosphates with consistent composition which minimizes valuable P losses. The high P absorbability and the high amount of absorbable P per kg of BOLIFOR® MCP contributes to minimized transportation and storage costs, maximizing profitability. Minimizing P excretion and heavy metal voiding from livestock into the environment is one of the ways in which Yara contributes to a more sustainable world.