Laboratory evaluations of feed-grade and agricultural-grade phosphates

UVC Stokes and Anti-Stokes Emission of Ca9Y(PO4)7 Polycrystals Doped with Pr3+ Ions

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has made everyone aware of the threat of viruses and the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It has become necessary to find new methods to combat these hazards. One tool that could be used is UVC radiation, i.e., 100-280 nm. Currently, the available sources of this light are mercury vapor lamps. However, the modern world requires more compact, mercury-free, and less energy-consuming light sources. This work presents the results of our research on a new material in which efficient UVC radiation was obtained. Here, we present the results of research on Ca9Y(PO4)7 polycrystals doped with Pr3+ ions prepared using the solid-state method. The absorption, excitation, emission, and emission decay profiles of praseodymium(III) ions were measured and analyzed. The upconversion emission in the UVC region excited by blue light was observed. Parameters such as energy bandgap, refractive index, and thermal stability of luminescence were determined. The studied phosphate-based phosphor possesses promising characteristics that show its potential in luminescent applications in future use in medicine or for surface disinfection.

- Invited Review - Mineral composition and phosphorus digestibility in feed phosphates fed to pigs and poultry

Phosphorus (P) is a macro mineral needed for bone mineralization and cell membrane structure and P is also involved in several fundamental pathways of metabolism in the body. Because of the low concentration and digestibility of P in plant ingredients that are the main components of diets for poultry and pigs, feed phosphates are usually included in diets in addition to the P contributed by plant ingredients. The most widely used feed phosphates in poultry and swine diets are dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP), but tricalcium phosphate (TCP), monosodium phosphate (MSP), and magnesium phosphate (MgP) may be used as well. Because feed phosphates are mostly produced from rock phosphate, feed phosphates have impurities that contain minerals other than P. Concentrations of P in feed phosphates range from 14.8% (MgP) to 25.7% (MSP). The standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in pigs ranges from 71% (TCP) to 95% (MSP). The STTD of Ca and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of P and Ca in feed phosphates fed to pigs and poultry have been determined only in a few experiments. Available data indicate that the STTD of Ca and SID of P in MCP are greater than in DCP in both poultry and pigs, but the SID of Ca is similar between DCP and MCP fed to broilers. Information on mineral concentrations and digestibility values in feed phosphates is needed in diet formulation for pigs and poultry, but if diets are formulated to contain equal concentrations of digestible P and Ca, it is unlikely that animal performance will be impacted by the source of feed phosphates used in the diet.

Effects of microbial phytase on standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in feed phosphates fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in feed phosphates are increased by microbial phytase when fed to growing pigs. Monocalcium phosphate (MCP), monosodium phosphate (MSP), and magnesium phosphate (MgP) from volcanic deposits were used in the experiment. Three corn-soybean meal based diets that contained 0, 500, or 4,000 units of microbial phytase (FTU), but no feed phosphates, were formulated. Nine additional diets were formulated by adding each of the three feed phosphates to the three basal diets. A P-free diet was also formulated to estimate the basal endogenous loss of P, and therefore, 13 diets were used in the experiment. A total of 117 growing barrows (initial body weight: 15.56 ± 1.68 kg) were allotted to the 13 diets with 9 pigs per diet. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Installation of a screen floor under the slatted floor allowed for collection of feces. Diets were fed for 10 d, with the initial 5 d being a period of adaptation to the diet followed by a collection period of 4 d. During the experiment, pigs were fed equal amounts of feed twice daily at 0800 and 1600 h. Results indicated that the ATTD and STTD of P in all diets increased with the inclusion of 500 or 4,000 FTU, but the ATTD and STTD of P in the feed phosphates were not affected by the inclusion of phytase. This indicates that the increases in ATTD and STTD of P that were observed in the mixed diets when phytase was used were due to the release of P from phytate in corn and soybean meal and not from an increase in digestibility of P in feed phosphates. However, MgP had a lower (P < 0.05) ATTD and STTD of P than MCP and MSP. In conclusion, microbial phytase does not increase the digestibility of P in MCP, MSP, or MGP, but the digestibility of P in MgP is less than in MCP and MSP.

Manganese requirements of broiler breeder hens

The present research was conducted to assess Mn requirements of broiler breeder hens. One hundred and twenty Cobb 500 hens, 22 wk of age, were individually allocated in cages. After fed a Mn-deficient diet (22.2 ppm), hens were randomly placed in treatments having 6 increments of 30-ppm Mn. All trace minerals were from laboratory grade sources being Mn from Mn sulfate (MnSO₄H₂O). Treatments were fed for 4 periods of 28 d. There were no interactions between dietary Mn and period for any evaluated response (P > 0.05). Requirements of Mn for hen day egg production and settable egg production were 115.8 and 56.6 ppm and 122.1 and 63.6 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using quadratic polynomial (QP) and broken line quadratic (BLQ) models, whereas total eggs and total settable eggs per hen had Mn requirements estimated at 115.7 and 56.6 and 121.8 and 61.7 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively. Number of cracked, defective, and contaminated eggs decreased, whereas hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, eggshell percentage, and eggshell palisade layer increased when hens were fed diets having 48.5 to 168.2-ppm Mn (P < 0.05). Maximum responses for egg weight and eggshell percentage were 117.7 and 63.6 ppm as well as 131.6 and 71.0 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using QP and BLQ models. Breaking strength and egg specific gravity had Mn requirements estimated at 140.2 and 112.7 ppm as well as 131.3 68.5 ppm (P < 0.05), whereas eggshell palisade layer and eggshell thickness were maximized with 128.8 and 68.8 ppm and 140.2 134.2 ppm, respectively, for QP and BLQ models (P < 0.05). Maximum yolk Mn content values were obtained using 118.0- and 118.4-ppm Mn by QP and BLQ models, respectively. The average Mn requirements estimated for QP and BLQ models is 128.4 and 92.3 ppm Mn (18.7 and 13.5 mg/hen/d), respectively, which is much lower than what has been currently recommended in commercial production.

Management of phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle grazing seasonally dry rangelands: a review

This review examines the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency as a major constraint to productivity of cattle grazing rangelands with low-P soils. Nutritional deficiency of P may severely reduce liveweight (LW) gain of growing cattle (e.g. by 20–60 kg/annum) and the productivity of breeder cow herds as weaning rate, mortality and calf growth. In seasonally dry tropical environments, the production responses to supplementary P occur primarily during the rainy season when the nutritional quality of pasture as metabolisable energy (ME) and protein is high and pasture P concentration is limiting, even though the P concentrations are higher than during dry season. When ME and nitrogen of rainy-season pasture are adequate, then P-deficient cattle typically continue to gain LW slowly, but with reduced bone mineralisation (i.e. osteomalacia). In beef breeder herds when diet P is insufficient, cows with high bone P reserves can mobilise bone P reserves during late pregnancy and early lactation. Mobilisation may contribute up to the equivalent of ~7 g diet P/day (one-third of the P requirements) in early lactation, and, thus, allow acutely P-deficient breeders to maintain calf growth for at least several months until depletion of cow body P reserves. However, severe P deficiency in cattle is usually associated with reduced voluntary intake (e.g. by 20–30% per kg LW), severe LW loss and poor reconception rates. When P intake is greater than immediate requirements, breeders can replenish bone P. Replenishment in mature cows occurs slowly when ME intake is sufficient only for slow LW gain, but rapidly at ME intakes sufficient for rapid LW gain. Bone P replenishment also occurs in late-pregnant heifers even when losing maternal LW. Intervals of mobilisation and replenishment of body P reserves will often be important for P nutrition of beef breeder cows through annual cycles. Diagnosis of P deficiency in grazing cattle is difficult and must encompass estimation of both diet P intake and availability of P from body reserves. Cattle behaviour (e.g. pica, osteophagea), low soil P concentrations and low herd productivity provide valuable indicators. Some constituents of blood (plasma inorganic P, calcium, plasma inorganic P:calcium ratios and endocrine markers) are valuable indicators, but the threshold values indicative of P deficiency at various ME intakes are not well established. It is evident that knowledge of both the nutritional physiology and requirements for P provide opportunities to better manage P nutrition to alleviate production losses in low-input systems with beef cattle grazing rangelands.

Optimization of phosphate recovery from monkfish, Lophius vomerinus, processing by-products and characterization of the phosphate phases

BACKGROUND

Fish-processing by-products represent an increasing proportion of wastes globally. Valorizing offers a sustainable alternative by harnessing high-value products through process development. This study aimed to develop and optimize a demineralization process to recover minerals from fish bones with subsequent recovery of phosphates from the resulting solution.

RESULTS

The demineralization process was optimized under the following conditions: 5% H₃ PO₄ concentration (v/v), four extractions and solvent to feed ratio (v/w) of 5:1 at ambient temperature of 17 °C. This resulted in an ossein containing 2.0 ± 1.2 g kg^-1 _DM ash and 71.5 ± 3 g kg^-1 _DM hydroxyproline and mineral liquor. The phosphate precipitation from the mineral liquor was further optimized resulting in > 99% total P recovery at 75 °C reaction temperature and 1 mol L^-1 Ca(OH)₂ to mineral liquor ratio(v/v) of 0.95:1 for a reaction time of 17 min, per 150 mL starting mineral liquor. The precipitate contained 215.2 ± 3.0 g kg^-1 _DM dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) with a net contribution of 17.2% P from the fishbones, and 25 ± 0.2 g _DM of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) was precipitated from 150 mL starting mineral liquor at 25 °C reaction temperature, (1.2:1) 1 mol L^-1 Ca(OH)₂ to mineral liquor ratio (v/v) and reaction time of 17 min. The X-ray spectra confirmed the DCPD structure and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra indicated OCP precipitation.

CONCLUSION

This work successfully illustrated the recovery of minerals from fish bones and the subsequent production of different high-quality phosphates from fish-processing by-products, thus indicating a potential source for high-value products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in various inorganic phosphates fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in five sources of inorganic phosphate fed to growing pigs, including dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and monosodium phosphate (MSP, reagent grade). Six barrows (42.4 ± 1.1 kg) individually housed in metabolism crates were allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six dietary treatments and six periods. Each experimental period consisted of a 4 day adaptation period and a 5 day collection period. The five experimental diets contained 0.24 to 0.34% of P from each inorganic phosphate as a sole source of P. A P-free diet was also prepared to estimate the basal endogenous loss of P. The STTD of P in MSP (94.9%) was not different from the STTD of P in MCP (93.0%), but was greater (P < 0.05) than that in DCP, MDCP and TCP (87.0, 86.5 and 71.3%, respectively). In conclusion, digestibility of P in reagent-grade MSP was greater than that in feed-grade inorganic phosphates such as DCP, MDCP and TCP, and digestibility of P in DCP and MDCP was greater than that in the TCP.

Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Different Hydrated Monocalcium Phosphates for Broiler Chickens

Three hydrated monocalcium phosphates differing in purity (with or without monetite, or monetite and calcite) and in crystalline structure were used in broiler chickens diets. The performance indices, concentration of Ca, P and Mg and activity of alkaline phosphatase in blood plasma, the content of these mineral elements in bones, and physico-mechanical parameters of femur and tibia bones were recorded. Body weight on 35th day of life, feed intake and mechanical parameters of bone quality were slightly affected by the type of phosphates used. Higher Ca and P concentration in blood was stated in chickens fed diets with greater purity of phosphates, but activity of alkaline phosphatase has increased with the admixture of monetite or calcite used in phosphates. The best parameters of bone quality were found in the treatment in which hydrated monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with admixture of monetite and calcite was applied. Higher concentration of both Ca and Mg in bone was determined in chickens fed diets with pure phosphates.

Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in feed and agricultural phosphates for poultry

Nine hundred fifty male Hubbard chicks were used in a 21-d study (10 birds per battery cage) to determine relative bioavailability of P (RBP) in four feed-grade phosphates (FP) [two Brazilian dicalcium and two U.S.-made phosphates (di-monocalcium and defluorinated)] and four Brazilian agricultural grade phosphates (AP) [single (AP-1), and triple (AP-2) superphosphates, monoammonium (AP-3), and thermomagnesium (AP-4) phosphates]. The reference standard was a purified-grade calcium phosphate dibasic (SP). Phosphates were added to the corn-soybean control diet (22% protein; 0.40% P + 0.08% P from SP), providing 0.08 and 0.16% additional P. Calcium level was 1.0% for all diets. Slope ratio was used to determine RBP, with BW, bone ash (BA), or bone strength (BS) regressed on P added within each P source. A relative biological value (RBV) was estimated using BW, BA, and feed efficiency. Performance was depressed (P < 0.01) by AP as compared with FP; BW was decreased by 11%, and feed intake (FI) was decreased by 14%. Mortality increased (P < 0.05) by 154% (7 vs 2.8%). Phosphate source AP-4, which had the lowest content of P and a high content of F, Fe, Ba, Ti, and Th, was toxic based on a 44% decrease (P < 0.01) in BW, 46% decrease in FI, 19% decrease in BA (32.4 vs 40.0%), 55% decrease in BS (7.1 vs 15.8 kg), and mortality increase (P < 0.05) from 0.7 to 26% compared with the average of AP-1, -2 and -3. The RBP could not be estimated for AP-4; and average availabilities for FP and AP, respectively, were 100.6 and 107.6% (BW), 88.3 and 93.2% (BA), 84.2 and 96.3% (BS), and 100.0 and 99.9% (RBP). The AP varied in RBP, with particularly high values calculated for AP-3. Performance and bone parameters in this study were not strongly affected by high levels of potentially toxic mineral elements in certain AP; this result may be explained by the low levels of phosphate addition and the short duration of the feeding period (21 d). However, considering their relatively high levels of F, Fe, Mg, S, Ba, Ti, and Th, agricultural-grade phosphate may represent considerable risk of toxicity for use in animal diets.