Hydrolysis of Natural Phytate Phosphorus in the Digestive Tract of Calves

Abstract

The hydrolysis of natural phytate phosphorus in the intestinal tract of cattle was determined in two balance studies. Four calves 56 days old and six steers 9 months of age were fed a diet composed primarily of either corn or sorghum grain and soybean meal. Traces of phytate phosphorus were recovered in the feces of the younger calves while none was evident in the feces of older calves. No phytate was recovered from the contents of the rumen, abomasum, small and large intestines of three calves fed a ration composed primarily of sorghum grains and soybean meal.