Influence of phosphorus supplements upon cellulose digestion by ruman microorganisms and ration digestibility by sheep

Since phosphorus has been found to be of vital importance for rumen bacteria and since there are a large number of phosphorus supplements available for feed use, this study was undertaken for the following purposes:

1. To determine the effects of phosphorus from dicalcium phosphate (furnace process), dicalcium phosphate (vet acid process), Curaco rock phosphate and a defluorinated phosphate upon cellulose digestion by rumen microorganisms In vitro.

2. To compare the relative availability of these four sources of phosphorus.

3. To compare the relative availability of the four sources of phosphorus to rumen microorganisms collected from a steer on pasture and to rumen microorganism from a steer on dry feed.

4. To determine the effect of an adaption period on the availability of a phosphorus supplement to rumen microbes.

5. To compare the relative availability of three defluorinated phosphates obtained from three different sources.

6. To determine the effect of phosphorus from a dicalcium phosphate supplement and a defluorinated phosphate supplement upon cellulose digestion by sheep.