True is more additive than apparent total tract digestibility of calcium in limestone and dicalcium phosphate for twenty-kilogram pigs fed semipurified diets.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the Ca digestibility of limestone and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and if values for Ca digestibility are additive in mixed diets for pigs. In Exp. 1, 48 barrows with an average initial BW of 19.2 ± 1.1 kg were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of 2 Ca sources, including limestone or DCP, and 3 dietary Ca concentrations of 0.54, 0.74, or 0.94%. Diets were fed for a 5-d adjustment period followed by a total collection period of 5 d with chromic oxide and ferric oxide as markers to determine the initiation and termination of fecal collection, respectively. Results indicated that the increased dietary Ca concentration linearly increased ( < 0.01) Ca intake, digested Ca, and retained Ca but did not affect the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca or Ca retention of intake (%). The ATTD of P and P retention of intake were linearly increased ( < 0.05) as dietary Ca and P increased. In Exp. 2, 72 barrows with an average initial BW of 20.8 ± 1.3 kg were assigned to 1 of 9 dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of 3 Ca sources, including limestone, DCP, or the mixture of the 2 at a ratio of 1:1, and dietary Ca concentrations of 0.40, 0.50, or 0.60%. Feeding and sample collection procedures were as in Exp. 1. The results also showed that increased Ca concentration linearly increased ( < 0.001) Ca intake, fecal Ca output, and Ca absorbed but did not affect the ATTD of Ca within each Ca source. The average ATTD were 66.46, 70.34, and 69.32% for the limestone, DCP, and mixed diets, respectively. By regressing daily digested Ca against daily Ca intake, the true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of Ca was determined to be 70.06, 76.42, and 73.72% for the limestone, DCP, and mixed diets, respectively. The predicted TTTD for Ca in the mixed diets of limestone and DCP was calculated to be 72.67% based on the Ca contribution coefficient of 0.59 for limestone and 0.41 for DCP. The predicted Ca TTTD (72.67%) in the mixed diets was not different from the Ca TTTD (73.72%) determined using the regression method. It is concluded that although the ATTD of limestone and DCP were not affected by the Ca concentration in the diet, TTTD is recommended for evaluation of Ca digestibility because of its additivity in a mixed diet.