Two metabolism trials were conducted with 15 wethers surgically equipped with duodenal and ileal cannulas to study the absorption of P and certain other minerals from swine waste and broiler litter. The effect of source and level of P on rumen cellulytic bacterial populations was also determined. Animals were fed a low P basal diet until serum inorganic P averaged 5.5 mg/dl, then randomly assigned to the following diets: low P basal alone, or supplemented with swine waste, broiler litter, dicalcium phosphate, or soybean meal. Trials consisted of a 7-d preliminary period, a 7-d collection of urine and feces and a 6-d sampling of duodenal and ileal digesta, and feces. Animals fed the waste diets tended to absorb more P than those fed the conventional supplements. Calculated by difference, sheep absorbed more P from swine waste and broiler litter than from dicalcium phosphate and soybean meal (P< .1). Less Ca was absorbed from the waste diets than from the conventionally supplemented diets (P< .05). Expressed as g/d, there was no difference in Mg absorption between waste and conventional diets. Sheep fed waste tended to digest more dry matter and a higher percentage of ADF in the large intestine. Lignin was primarily digested in the large intestine of all sheep. More cellulytic bacteria were isolated from the rumen of sheep fed the supplemented diets (P< .05). Both P intake and P recycling appear to be important influences on cellulytic bacteria in the rumen. Both broiler litter and swine waste appear to be good sources of P and Mg for ruminants.