Preference for inorganic sources of calcium and phosphorus by sheep as a function of need

Abstract

Calcium and phosphorus play vital roles in the nutrition of ruminants, from DNA synthesis and intracellular communication to cell membrane fluidity and metabolic pathways (Goff, 2018; Underwood & Suttle, 1999). In turn, animals maintain a balance of minerals in their bodies that meets their nutritional needs by recognizing different internal states and discriminating among different nutrients (Provenza & Villalba, 2006). In this process, ruminants learn associations between the flavors of foods and their post-ingestive consequences (Provenza, 1995) such that foods that provide required amounts of Ca and P may be preferred, whereas those that supply excesses or deficits of minerals may be avoided (Provenza, 1996). This mechanism allows animals to self-select nutrients as a function of their individual and dynamic needs, instead of consuming a fixed amount of supplement designed for the average animal (Provenza et al., 2003). This behavior contributes to explain why lambs offered choices among different foods, typically improve productive and digestive performance (Askar et al., 2006), and show reductions in stress parameters (Catanese et al., 2013). Nevertheless, macrominerals in livestock production systems are in general provided in combinations and added to total mixed rations or presented in blocks. As described before, nutrient requirements are dynamic and depend on specific individual needs and physiological states. Thus, self-selection of minerals would account for such variability, allowing for an optimal state of nutrition and welfare within the herd. In support of

Effect of Different Water Quality on the Nutritive Value and Chemical Composition of Sorghum bicolor Payenne in Cape Verde

“…Macrominerals in livestock production systems are either added to the total mixed ratios or presented in blocks to overcome the mineral imbalance problems observed in fodder plants. Although it is not known how ruminants self-select mineral supplements, whose Ca and P concentrations vary according to the physiological state [26], these authors demonstrated that lambs were able to discriminate among minerals, and some groups modify their preferences given the influence by mineral needs which, in turn, contributes to rectify mineral imbalances.…”

“…Sorghum is an elemental raw material in animal feed because it supplies important minerals and micronutrients that are essential for optimal health, growth, and development. Animal nutrient requirements are dynamic and depend on specific individual needs and physiological states [26]. Table 4 shows the analyzed concentration of the Sorghum bicolor Payenne mineral elements.…”