The coefficients of apparent and true digestibility of calcium (Ca) of eight feedstuffs for pigs were determined. A total of 60 barrows were housed in metabolism cages and distributed in a completely randomized design in a factorial 2 X 10 (treatments X methods) and 6 replicates per treatment. Treatments consisted of eight feedstuffs, a basal diet (0.072% Ca) and a diet with low Ca content (0.018%). The coefficients of apparent and true digestibility of Ca were determined using two methods simultaneously: total fecal collection and fecal marker (Acid Insoluble Ash - AIA). The true digestibility coefficients of Ca, obtained by the total fecal collection and the fecal marker methods were respectively: Limestone 1, 84.80 and 87.33%; Limestone 2, 84.19% and 86.32; Dicalcium Phosphate, 79.36 and 84.55%; Monodicalcium Phosphate, 83.83 and 85.81%, Dolomitic Limestone, 87.39% and 85.65; Meat and Bone Meal (40% CP), 70.00 and 68,64%; Meat and Bone Meal (50% CP), 66.92% and 68.03; Poultry by Product Meal, 73.40 and 73.95%, Calcium Lactate, 95.10 and 97.33%. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the total fecal collection (80.14%) and fecal marker (82.15%) with the methods evaluated.
suine; acid insoluble ash calcium; digestibility; fecal marker
