Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Mathematical models to study the biological phosphorus flow in sheep fed increasing levels of mineral

Two compartimental models were applied and compared to evaluate the biological flow of P in lambs fed diets containing increasing levels of P (0, 2, 4 and 6g per day). Twenty four Santa Inês lambs with liveweight of 33.6kg were used. Dicalcium phosphate was used as P source and 32P as a tracer. P flow between compartments (gastrointestinal tract, blood, bones and soft tissues), ingestion, excretion and the mineral balance were evaluated. The increase in P intake increased fecal P loss. P flow from gastrointestinal tract to blood stream and opposite flow were affected quadratically by increased P intake, decreasing after the ingestion of 5.5g/day, without a difference among models. The models studied showed differences regarding the P flow between blood, bone and soft tissues, however, the P balance was not affected by the treatments. The increased P levels interfered with the biological P flow in sheep. The bioavailability of P diet decreases when intake exceeds the animal requirement, increasing losses to the environment. The quantification of biological P flow was different between models due to the structure of each one.

lamb; Santa Inês; isotopic dilution; environmental pollution


Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Veterinária Caixa Postal 567, 30123-970 Belo Horizonte MG - Brazil, Tel.: (55 31) 3409-2041, Tel.: (55 31) 3409-2042 - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil
E-mail: abmvz.artigo@gmail.com