Ca:P grass and veg observation

[Shelley anne]

Something I find unusual is this. I googled the Ca P of grass and couldn't find it but I did find the Ca P of Grass hay on GuineaLynx. Grass hay being 2.4:1, Timothy hay being 2.2:1 so I would assume that fresh grass would be the same at 2.4:1, Correct me if I am wrong please.
When I feed my guinea pigs grass only they don't have trouble with tons of white spots or sludge despite the Ca P indicating it has twice the amount of calcium to Phosphorus.
Yet, if I were to feed my guinea pigs that ratio of Ca P 2.4:1 as a vegetable diet (& hay of course) and not a grass diet, the sludge and spots would be over the top, in fact it would be neglectful of me to even consider feeding them this.
Any theories?

 

[Swissgreys]

The problem with all calculations on the Ca-P ratio is that it is far from being an exact science, and also the percentage uptake isn't fully understood.
One of the real issues is that all aspects of the diet interact and is isn't as simple as just counting Ca-P ratios.
Ca-P ratios can't be predicted because this will vary depending on a huge number of factors. Not all grass will have the same ca-P ratio - the timothy hay that was cut in a different field on a different day and grown under different conditions will never exactly match that of the particular hay that was analyzed.
Plus every pig is an individual and will respond differently.

It is easy to become overly worried about scientific data around the Ca-P ratios, but in my expereince it is far better to do some research and carefully observe how your own piggies respond to different aspects of their diet.

If you know certain food trigger sludge spots for your own pigs then I would adapt the diet they are fed that resolves the problem, not worry about specific numbers and ratios.

 

[Shelley anne]

Yes I am doing that now. I am weighing the amount of a food and seeing how they go with the particular food. Although mostly they are getting grass. It may seem a bit OTT to weight their foods but I am so heavy handed that I keep overdoing it and then I have a problem again. So to keep myself in check I weigh before I give and then see how it goes by checking for white wee or hopefully no white wee.