Phosphorus reduction techniques examined.

Environmental groups are proposing new guidelines and regulations that govern and modify manure application methods that have been used by the farm community. Proposed regulations require better utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus in feeds. One aspect of nutrient management is to reduce the phosphorus intake of animals in an attempt to reduce the amount of phosphorus excreted in the manure. A paper in Feedstuffs cited three ways to reduce phosphorus in poultry operations; 1) more precise formulation to the bird's needs; 2) efficient use of highly digestible, highly uniform feed ingredients; and 3) the use of feed treatments to improve the utilization of feeds. The writer concludes that by using these techniques, the amount of phosphorus added to broiler diets can be reduced, thus reducing the amount of phosphorus excreted in manure of broilers.

Comment: These recommendations are very practical and supportive of soybean meal use. Soybean meal's advantages are consistency; phosphorus levels in soybean meal are consistent lot-to-lot. Volumes of research have been published on the beneficial effects of phytase on increasing phosphorus utilization of soybean meal. Research is also underway to genetically increase the digestibility of soy's phosphorus. These efforts will help maintain soybean meal's dominant role in providing a high-quality protein ingredient to formulators of poultry feeds.

Wicker, David L. Feedstuffs, 1999. Phosphorus reduction techniques examined. August 2, p12-14.