Effect of Feeding Formaldehyde Treated Guar Meal With or Without Urea on Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism in Sheep

Twenty four weaned male Magra lambs were divided into 4 eqaal groups and fed untreated guar meal (T₁) formaldehyde treated guar meal (T₂), formaldehyde treated guar meal supplemented with urea (T₃) and untreated guar meal supplemented with urea (T₄) Two metabolic trials were conducted at an interval of six months tostudy the effect of formaldehyde on Ca and P metabolism. The total intake of calcium was similar among the four groups though for P the difference was significant (P < 0.01) However, variation, in the intake of Ca and P through guar meal among the treatments groups were significant as were the Ca and P out go through urine and faeces, retention of phosphorus as net retained or percentage of total intake for P. The average body weight of lambs in T₃ were significantly higher than those observed in other treatment groups in trial-II. It was concluded that feeding of formaldehyde treated guar meal resulted in improved utilization of phosphorus by reducing its excretion in urine.