The effect of different dietary levels of Ca and P on the plasma Ca, inorganic P and Mg as well as the ash, Ca, P and Mg content of cervical vertebrae and total body of sheep.
Six 14 month old rams were divided equally into three groups and received either a high Ca (1,102% Ca : 0,192% P : 0,128% Mg), control (0,322% Ca : 0,311=P : 0,128% Mg) or high P (0,127% Ca : 1,043% P: 0,130% Mg) diet in pellected form for 150 days. 2. Dry mass and ash % of the third cervical vertebra decreased as Ca intake decreased while fat % increased. There was a highly significant negative correlation (= -0,992) between bone ash% and bone fat %. Bone P and Mg showed no particular trends. 3. Total body Ca and P as well as % body Ca and P all decreased with a decrease in dietary Ca and increase in dietary P intake. Body Mg showed no particular trend. 4. The results suggest that while plasma values may be useful in assessing the P intake of sheep on natural pastures, bone and total body P may not be.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010758:Phosphorus; D008274:Magnesium