A higher water-soluble phosphorus supplement in pig diet improves the whole system phosphorus use efficiency

At the whole system level, the diet supplemented with 0.20%HWS increased average daily gain and apparent total tract digestibility of feed phosphorus by 21.9% and 21.7%, and reduced manure total phosphorus and water soluble inorganic phosphorus by 37.7% and 43.9%, compared with the 0.20%LWS amended diet. The 0.10%HWS supplement increased phosphorus use efficiency of the whole system by 18.1%, compared to 0.20%LWS supplement.

These results suggest that a shift of pig feed supplementation from lower to higher water-soluble supplements could be an effective strategy for sustainable phosphorus use through the whole pig production system, and provides new insights for sustainable livestock production in countries with severe challenges from phosphorus shortages and pollution.