The Effect of Dicalcium Phosphate Supplement in Summer and Winter Seasons as Reflected on Bone and Blood Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium Levels in Range Breeding Beef Cattle

In an attempt to find the best season of the year to supplement phosphorus (P) of grazing beef cattle, 30 Bonsmara cows were randomly allotted into two groups of 15 animals each and given either a phosphate supplement or a control lick of common salt only from 2005 to 2008. Blood and bone samples were collected monthly from both groups of animals for mineral analyses in the winter (May, June, July) and summer (November, December, January) months. Both groups of cows depended entirely on natural pasture and all grazed together. Animals fed supplemented Phosphorus hand significantly higher (P<0.05) bone and blood phosphorus levels during the winter months than the nonsupplemented group. However, phosphorus levels were not significantly different in the two groups during summer. The result of this study highlights the importance of feeding supplementary Phosphorus to beef cattle grazing natural pastures during winter.