CASE STUDY: National survey of barriers related to precision phosphorus feeding

In 2010, a national survey was conducted in cooperation with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) to document adoption barriers related to reduced P feeding. An online electronic survey of 12 questions was sent to all ARPAS members with a dairy emphasis (approximately 700). Fifty-three percent of 130 respondents indicated that balancing for ration P was a priority (rank of 7, 8, 9, or 10 out of 1 to 10 rank); 75.2% of respondents indicated that they perceived current NRC (2001) recommendations for P as adequate, whereas 8.5% indicated that they are too low and 16.3% indicated they are too high. The respondents (54.8%) identified the most challenging aspect of reducing P in the diet was due to uncertainty of P content of feedstuffs, whereas 36.8% indicated cost and 9.6% indicated uncertainty of ration ingredients. Fifty-two respondents indicated why they fed more than the recommended NRC (2001) level of P and selected one or more of the following: 1) concern about negative impact on metabolic diseases (46.2%), 2) mastitis (9.6%), 3) foot problems (7.7%), 4) heat detection efficiency (55.8%), 5) conception rate (63.5%), and 6) retained placenta (23.1%). When asked what information is needed to assist them in ration formulation for P, 69.7% indicated availability of P from different sources; 56.3% indicated updated requirements for maintenance, production, and reproduction; and 45.4% indicated that more documentation was needed that current NRC (2001) recommendations for P are adequate. Information collected indicate that more progress needs to be made to ensure the P availability from feedstuffs and ensure that no impairment of reproduction would be expected from feeding NRC (2001) recommended levels of P.