Circadian changes in blood ionized calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations and pH in cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To explore diurnal variation in blood ionized calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations and pH in pregnant dairy cows. ANIMALS: 14 dairy cows in their third or later pregnancy approximately 6 weeks before expected parturition. PROCEDURE: Throughout a 24-hour period, blood samples were taken at 2-hour intervals and analyzed for ionized calcium (iCa2+), potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), and chloride (Cl-) concentrations and pH. Paired t-tests were used to compare initial and final values. Circadian changes were tested by use of repeated-measures ANOVA. Additionally, a nonparametric analysis was performed for each animal to determine minimal and maximal values for the variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were not detected between initial and final values of any variable. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated significant diurnal fluctuations in all variables. With the exception of Cl- concentration, nonparametric analysis of individual values also revealed significant changes over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The magnitude of daily fluctuations does not make it necessary to standardize time of sample collection for routine diagnostic examination of blood iCa2+, Na+, and Cl-concentrations and pH. However, it may be important to standardize time of sample collection in comparative studies in which more discrete differences may be identified.     

Effects of age on erythrocyte magnesium,sodium and potassium concentrations in female dairy cattle

The effect of age on erythrocyte Mg, Na and K concentrations and the correlations between these parameters (EMg, ENa and EK) and other blood parameters were studied in female dairy cattle ranging from 1 week to over 8 years of age. EMg concentration was higher than plasma Mg, the concentration being highest in calves 1 week old and lowest in cows 3–4 years old. ENa and EK concentrations were lower and higher respectively in calves 1 week of age than in older animals and did not show any significant age variation in those between 1 and 8 years of age. The EK concentration was more highly correlated with erythrocyte parameters (PCV, RCC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC) than was either EMg or ENa concentrations.     

Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride and glucose in the blood of cattle following intravenous infusion of solutions with various calcium and magnesium concentration aimed at improving the treatment of hypomagnesemia]

Recent findings on changes in the mineral content of tissues in bovine hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia show the necessity of using different mineral solutions for the treatment and prevention of these conditions. Infusion of 2% CaCl2-6H2O with 10% MgCl2-6H2O and 5% glucose one after the other or in combination produced severe functional changes in cardiac activity and respiration. Recommended concentrations for treatment or prophylaxis of hypomagnesaemia were 10 g magnesium chloride and 2 g calcium chloride, or alternatively 12 g magnesium adipate and 5 g calcium gluconate, in 100 ml of distilled water (total dose 500 ml). This was well tolerated and it overcame the mineral deficiency in tissues.     

Effect of dietary phosphorus and roughage levels on calcium, magnesium and potassium utilization by sheep

Three levels of dietary P (.12%, .24% and .48% of dry matter) and three levels of roughage as ground corn cobs (25% 50% and 75% of dry matter) were fed in a 3 X 3 factorial metabolism trial, utilizing 36 crossbred (Hampshire X Columbia) intact male lambs, 6 to 9 mo of age. All diets contained cane molasses (5%), blood meal (13.5%), urea (1%), corn oil (1%) and salt (.5%). Limestone supplied supplemental Ca and treatment P levels were supplied by monosodium phosphate. Equal levels of corn starch and cerelose supplied the remainder of the diet. The diet was fed ad libitum, once daily. The highest P level (.48% P) resulted in a negative (P less than .01) Ca balance (-.23 g/d vs .12 g/d for .12% P and .31 g/d for .24% P groups), and apparent digestibility (P less than .01) of Ca (1.65% vs 17.18 and 22.2% for the two respective lower P dietary levels). Blood serum concentrations of Ca and Mg decreased (P less than .01) as dietary P level was increased. Apparent digestibility of Mg was decreased (P less than .05) by the highest P level (6.9% vs 21.58% and 18.80% for the two lower levels of dietary P). Level of roughage had no effect on Ca and Mg utilization; however, the highest level (75% corn cobs) resulted in improved (P less than .05) K balance (.85 g/d vs .30 and .50 g/d for the two lower levels of roughage).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effect of replacement of 0.30% sodium chloride by 0.43% sodium bicarbonate in rations of fattening pigs on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth

The effect of replacing dietary sodium chloride by sodium bicarbonate on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth in young fattening pigs was studied in two experiments using 104 and 126 animals. The experimental pigs were fed 0.43% dietary sodium bicarbonate, which replaced the sodium chloride (0.30%), was present in the diets of the control groups. It was found that the clinical symptoms of leg weakness could be improved significantly in the experimental group which received bicarbonate. No positive effects on osteochondrosis, however, could be shown. The treated animals even tended to have more severe osteochondral lesions. Reasons for the negative tendency are discussed. Daily weight gain and food conversion were not influenced by the experimental bicarbonate diet excluding a chloride deficiency. Differences in carcass grading were not significant, although barrows fed the NaHCO3-containing diet tended to score better, while the carcass quality of the experimental gilts was slightly less in comparison to the control animals.     

The effect of replacement of 0.30% sodium chloride by 0.43% sodium bicarbonate in rations of fattening pigs on leg weakness,osteochondrosis and growth

Summary

The effect of replacing dietary sodium chloride by sodium bicarbonate on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth in young fattening pigs was studied in two experiments using 104 and 126 animals. The experimental pigs were fed 0.43 % dietary sodium bicarbonate, which replaced the sodium chloride (0.30%), was present in the diets of the control groups.

It was found that the clinical symptoms of leg weakness could be improved significantly in the experimental group which received bicarbonate. No positive effects on osteochondrosis, however, could be shown. The treated animals even tended to have more severe osteochondral lesions. Reasons for the negative tendency are discussed. Daily weight gain and food conversion were not influenced by the experimental bicarbonate diet excluding a chloride deficiency. Differences incarcass grading were not significant, although barrows fed the NaHCO₃‐containing diet tended to score better, while the carcass quality of the experimental gilts was slightly less in comparison to the control animals.     

The rate of soil ingestion by dairy cows and the effect on available copper,calcium, sodium and magnesium

This paper records a unique ovine encephalomyelopathy seen on several farms in the Otago Region of New Zealand. It occurred in 2–3 month-old Romney lambs as a rapidly progressive posterior paresis leading to flaccid paralysis. Pathologically, it was characterised by severe spongy vacuolation of white matter in both brain and spinal cord. It is suspected that the condition is inherited.     

Influence of endogenous factors on the ash, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper and manganese contents in the bristles of pigs. 3. Influence of time of cutting on the mineral composition of the hair (boar bristles)]

The ash content and the content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na in the bristles of pigs is influenced by the age of the animal and by the season of the year. The peak concentrations of ash, Ca and Mg in the bristles of eight boars (cut every month) were found in June, shortly before the change in hair coat. (P less than 0.05-0.001). The concentrations of K and Na in the bristles deviated functionally from the change in the hair coat. In the first half of the year the bristles of the boars contained significantly more K and Na than in the second half. Values for the elements P, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn were subject to great variations through the year. These variations were found to be different with different animals. The influence of endogenic factors on the Mn content of the bristles was particularly striking, also in regard of the order of magnitude. The processes of Mn metabolism in the bristles are obviously still archaic in origin and would thus only allow to make comparison with other values of the mineral content of bristles at the very time of sampling. Differences in the P, Zn, Fe and Cu content of bristles in the different months were, in some instances, statistically significant although variations in the annual mean values were found to be relatively small.