Treatment of Phosphorus Balance Disorders

Phosphorus (P) homeostasis in ruminants has received increased attention over the past decades. Although environmental concerns associated with excessive P excretion in cattle manure have led to incentives to lower dietary P intake, hypophosphatemia—particularly in the periparturient dairy cow—has been associated with conditions, such as the downer cow syndrome or postparturient hemoglobinuria. The objective of this article is to revisit current understanding of P homeostasis in ruminants, to discuss the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of P balance disorders, and to review different treatment approaches to correct imbalances of the body’s P equilibrium.