How Does Phosphorus Affect The Environment
To numerous people, pigs are a nuisance. They are usually viewed as dirty animals with no purpose other than for food. However, pigs contribute greatly to the environment. They are able to digest certain substances easier than humans and use resources to make life easier for us. On the other hand, phosphorus, one of the many essential nutrients for swine, has negatively impacted the environment due to swine excretions. Elevating this problem has led to the genetic improvement of swine. Phosphorus is crucial for healthy growth in pigs. Unfortunately, 50 to 70 percent of the phosphorus in grain is in the form of phytic acid, a compound indigestible by pigs. This is the reason many farmers have to supplement pig diets with an enzyme called phytase.