Phosphorus metabolism in dairy cattle : literature study on recent developments and gaps in knowledge

Goal of this literature study is to define the uncertainties related to P requirement models and ways to make them more precise and more reliable than current systems and to find biomarkers to monitor P balance in living animals. Milk P is an important factor in P balance, and concentration may vary between individual cows. Bone represents a large P reserve and can have a profound impact on cow P balance and plasma P regulation. Plasma P concentration is still the most commonly used diagnostic measurement available to judge the P status of an animal, with all restrictions for good interpretation; new biomarkers defining P status are needed. Further research into mechanisms and quantification of the is needed to improve our understanding of P metabolism.