| dc.description.abstract | Nutrient efficiencies are generally greater for animals fed diets with marginal deficiencies. In a preliminary study, however, Ca efficiency was lower in pigs fed diets with a marginal Ca deficiency (J Bone Miner Re 20:S193). The study assessed recovery of skeletal growth in young pigs following a period of Ca-deficiency. The Ca efficiency may have been inadvertently limited by the P concentrations in the diet. This study is designed to assess the effects of 70, 90, 120% of NRC P requirements on Ca efficiency for 75% and 150% of Ca levels. The Ca efficiencies were estimated using BMC values obtained from DXA Scans. Pigs fed 70% P did not gain bone mass over 27 d trials, regardless of Ca level, and pigs fed 120% did not show significant differences in Ca efficiency. Pigs fed 90%, however, exhibited effects that support Ca efficiencies being greater for marginally deficient diets (75% Ca) | en |
