Weight gain of Nelore cattle supplemented with different phosphorus sources

Lemos G.C., Costa R.M., Neto M.G. & Malafaia P. 2013. [Weight gain of Nelore cattle supplemented with different phosphorus sources.] Desempenho ponderal de bovinos Nelore suplementados com fontes alternativas de fosforo. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 33(2):188-192. Departamento de Nutricao Animal e Pastagem, Instituto de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, RJ 23851-970, Brazil. E-mail: malafaia_ufrrj@yahoo.com.br Weight gain and possible interference of fluoride on animal health was investigated in Nellore cattle supplemented during 866 days with alternative sources of phosphorus with different phosphorus: fluor (P:F) ratios. The five treatments were: (1) Negative control (NC, without any supplemental P), (2) dicalcium phosphate (DCP 120:1, DCP 30:1 and DCP 10:1), (3) monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP 60:1), (4) triple superphosphate (TSF 30:1), and (5) cajati rock phosphate (RP 10:1). We used 49 oxen weaned with 8 months of age and an average weight of 230 kg, distributed into seven paddocks with water and mineral mixture formulated without P. A standard diet consisting of sugar cane bagasse (0.03% P) as roughage and a concentrate containing 0.239% P was provided on 1% of live weight to allow a weight gain of about 0.50 kg/day. Until day 134, there was no statistical difference between the various groups, including the treatment NC which received no supplemental phosphorus in the diet and gained weight of 71.6 kg or 0.633 kg/day. After 866 days of confinement (2.37 years), the oxen supplemented with dicalcium phosphate standard (120:1) gained less weight than those supplemented with sources MDCP 60:1, DCP 30:1 and TSF 30:1. Up to one year of supplementation with dicalcium phosphate artificially fluoridated with NaF or with rock phosphate did not result in damage to health or in weight gain of the animals. Analyses of phosphorus in bones showed statistical difference between treatments, and group NC that did not receive any supplemental P showed the lowest values. The concentration of fluoride in bones proved to be closely related to the amount of fluoride available in the sources used. As the ratio P:F in the diet decreased, characteristic signs related to dental fluorosis became more evident, and the animals that received P supplies with 10:1 ratio showed at the end of the experiment permanent malformed incisor teeth, brittle and whitish stained.