Additivity of values for phosphorus digestibility in corn, soybean meal, and canola meal in diets fed to growing pigs.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the apparent and standardized total tract digestibility (ATTD and STTD) of phosphorus (P) in corn, soybean meal (SBM), and canola meal (CM), and additivity of values for ATTD and STTD of P in corn, SBM, and CM in diets fed to growing pigs. METHODS: Thirty-six growing barrows (initial body weight of 21.6±1.7 kg) were placed in metabolism crates and allotted to a completely randomized design with 6 diets and 6 pigs per diet. Six diets were formulated using corn, SBM or CM as the sole source of P, or corn and SBM, or corn and CM, or corn, SBM, and CM as the P source in each diet, respectively. Fecal samples were collected for 5 d following a 7 d adaptation period to the diets. RESULTS: Values for ATTD and STTD of P in corn, SBM, and CM in growing pigs were 33.12% and 37.76%, 50.19% and 56.62%, 34.93% and 39.45%, respectively. The ATTD and STTD of P in SBM were greater (p<0.05) than those in corn and CM. However, there were no differences in the ATTD or STTD of P between corn and CM. The determined STTD of P in the mixture of corn and SBM, corn and CM, and corn, SBM, and CM is not different from the calculated STTD values. CONCLUSION: Values for STTD of P in corn, SBM, and CM are additive in their mixture fed to growing pigs.