Why does everyone keep talking about P? (Phosphorus)
Welcome to the Cattle Station Classroom Podcast. In today’s lesson we are going to be learning about phosphorus and the impacts of a phosphorus deficiency in cattle.
Cattle need phosphorus for almost every vital function of the body. It is used for building bones and teeth, metabolising fat, carbohydrates and protein, producing milk and for efficient feed utilisation.
The problem of phosphorus deficiency arises because most soils in northern Australia are deficient in phosphorus and cattle cannot get sufficient P from the pasture.
In planning this episode, I referred to a number of resources, including the book: “Why do cattle need phosphorus? A guide for northern beef producers”, which is available for free online at the Meat and Livestock Australia website.
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