Monocalcium Phosphate
Monocalcium phosphate is a fine-grained powder and, chemically, a compound of calcium and phosphorous. It consists of 22.7% phosphorous and 16.0% calcium. According to the positive list, it is a feed materal and a high-quality raw material for animal nutrition.
Monocalcium phosphate is an inorganic compound that is mixed into mineral feed or other types of feed supplement.
Unlike phytin phosphorous, which occurs in plants, monocalcium phosphate is readily digestible in the small intestine and represents an easily utilisable source of phosphorous (and calcium) – firstly for the horse and secondly for its gut microbes, which have their own phosphorous requirement. Phytin phosphorous, which occurs in larger amounts in bran, grain or rapeseed extraction meal, for example, can be well digested microbially by horses in comparison to, for example, pigs, and also provides the horse with a good supply of phosphorous.
Phosphorous intake must always be considered in relation to calcium supply. A balanced Ca:phosphorous supply is important, for example, for bone mineralisation, calcium homeostasis, as a component of energy carriers, for impulse conduction in muscles, etc.
A good calcium-phosphorous ratio in the total ration is around 2:1 for the adult horse. For foals up to 3 years of age, it is around 1.5:1, as the utilisation of feed phosphorous is poorer in young horses. In addition, the Ca:P ratio should be somewhat narrower (1.4:1) for the heavily pregnant and heavily lactating mare.
In order to adjust the Ca:P ratio of the ration to these levels, the supplementary feed or mineral feed must balance out the Ca and P content of the staple feed. The Ca and P content is often already in a favourable ratio, but there are differences, and with such calcium-rich or phosphorous-poor staple feed, phosphorous must be added to the ration. If no grain components or oilseed products are used for this purpose, the phosphorous content of the feed can be balanced out using monocalcium phosphate.
It is also important to note: overdosing or excesses in phosphorous should generally be avoided for reasons of sustainability (keyword: nutrient flow balance).
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