Use of Computer Image Analysis to Evaluate the Density of Bone Tissue Matrix in Broilers Submitted to Diets with Different Phosphorus Sources in Growing and Finisher Rations

of Bone Tissue Matrix in Broilers Submitted to Diets with Different Phosphorus Sources in Growing and Finisher Rations Marcelo Emílio Beletti Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Bauer Oliveira e Alvarenga Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Evandro de Abreu Fernandes Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia ABSTRACT Monogastric animals absorb about one third of the cereals phosphorus. Hence it is essential to complement phosphorus in the ration served to such animals [1]. In Brazil, the inorganic phosphorus supplementation is generally done with dicalcium phosphate and bones flours. Normally, the rock phosphate is not used, despite the great deposits of such materials found in our country. There are restrictions to the use of these rocks due to fact that they possess high fluorine content and due to the scarce information about its phosphorus absorption. However, there has been growing interest in evaluating the natural rock phosphate as an alternative low cost source of the phosphorus [2]. This work has as objective the identification of possible alterations in the density of the bone tissue matrix of broilers, which were submitted to growing and finisher rations formulated with different sources of phosphorus.