Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T19:01:48.744Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of dietary intake of calcium and phosphorus on their absorption and retention by mature Ca-replete sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. D. Braithwaite
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9 AT

Summary

A combination of a mineral balance and a radioisotope technique has been used to study the effect of increased intakes of dietary calcium and phosphorus on the Ca and P metabolism of mature, Ca-replete wether sheep. Between Ca intakes of 40 and 100 mg/ day per kg body weight Ca absorption remained constant at a level just sufficient to supply maintenance requirements. Above 100 mg/day per kg body weight, however, absorption increased in direct relation to intake. It is suggested that the increased absorption occurred by diffusion and that at lower Ca intakes, increased diffusion was offset by a corresponding decrease, until it reached a negligible level, in the rate of active absorption.

In spite of the fact that the wethers were already Ca-replete, the increased Ca absorption resulted in increased Ca retention and not as might have been expected in increased excretion. Increased retention was brought about by a decrease in the rate of bone resorption and bone accretion remained constant. Maximum retention occurred when bone resorption ceased and it was equal to the rate of bone accretion. It was only when retention of Ca reached a maximum that further increases in absorption resulted in increased excretion of Ca into urine and intestine. P retention was also increased with increased Ca and P intakes and probably occurred as a result of the increased Ca retention.

The relevence of these findings to the control of parturient paresis (milk fever) in the dairy cow by dietary manipulation is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aubert, J.-P. & Milhaud, G. (1960). Méthode de mesure des principales voies du métabolisme caloique chez l'homme. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 39, 122139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D. (1974). The effect of changes of dietary calcium concentration on caloium metabolism in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 31, 319331.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braithwaite, G. D. (1975). Studies on the absorption and retention of calcium and phosphorus by young and mature Ca-defioient sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 34, 311324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D. (1978 a). The effect of dietary calcium intake of ewes in pregnancy on their Ca and phosphorus metabolism in lactation. British Journal of Nutrition 39, 213218.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D. (1978 b). Adaptations in the calcium and phosphorus metabolism of sheep in response to an intravenous infusion of Ca. British Journal of Nutrition 40, 1721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D. & Glascock, R. F. (1976). Metabolism of calcium in the sheep. Biennial Reviews. National Institute for Research in Dairying 4359.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D., Glascock, R. F. & Riazuddin, Sh. (1969). Calcium metabolism in lactating ewes. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 827834.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, G. D., Glascock, R. F. & Riazuddin, Sh. (1970). Calcium metabolism in pregnant ewes. British Journal of Nutrition 24, 661670.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braithwaite, G. D. & Riazuddin, Sh. (1971). The effect of age and level of dietary calcium intake on caloium metabolism in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 26, 215225.Google Scholar
Fiske, C. H. & Sttbbarow, Y. (1925). The colorimetrio determination of phosphorus. Journal of Biological Chemistry 66, 375400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gast, D. R., Makquardt, J. P., Jorgensen, N. A. & Deluca, H. F. (1977). Efficacy and safety of lahydroxyvitamin D3 for prevention of parturient paresis. Journal of Dairy Science 60, 19101920.Google Scholar
Goings, R. L., Jacobson, N. L., Beitz, D. C., Littledike, B. T. & Wiggers, K. D. (1974). Prevention of parturient paresis by a prepartum calcium-deficient diet. Journal of Dairy Science 57, 11841188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mayer, G. P. (1970). The roles of parathyroid hormone and thyrocalcitonin in parturient paresis. In Parturient Hypocalcaemia (ed. Anderson, J. J. B.), pp. 177193. New York: Academio Press.Google Scholar
Pickard, D. W. (1975). An apparent reduction in the incidence of milk fever achieved by regulation of the dietary intake of calcium and phosphorus. British Veterinary Journal 131, 744745.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pickard, D. W. (1976). Prevention of milk fever by regulation of calcium and phosphorus intake around parturition. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Production Disease in Farm Animals, Wageningen, pp. 105107.Google Scholar
Preston, R. L. & Pfander, W. H. (1964). Phosphorus metabolism in lambs fed varying phosphorus intakes. Journal of Nutrition 83, 369378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Symonds, H. W., Manston, R., Payne, J. M. & Sansom, B. F. (1966). Changes in the calcium and phosphorus requirements of the dairy cow at parturition with particular reference to the amounts supplied to the foetus in utero. British Veterinary Journal 122, 196200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Technicon Instruments Corporation (1967). Inorganic phosphate. Technicon Method Sheet, N-4B. Tarry Town, New York: Technicon Instruments Corporation.Google Scholar
Wasserman, R. H. & Taylor, A. N. (1969). Some aspects of the intestinal absorption of calcium with special reference to vitamin D. In Mineral Metabolism vol. 3, (ed. Comar, C. L. and Bronner, F.), pp. 321403. New York and London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Westerhuis, J. H. (1974). Parturient hypocalcaemia prevention in parturient cows prone to milk fever by dietary measures. Agricultural Research Reports, Wageningen, No. 814, 178.Google Scholar
Young, V. R., Lofgreen, G. P. & Luick, J. R. (1966). The effects of phosphorus depletion and of calcium and phosphorus intake on the endogenous excretion of these elements by sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 20, 795805.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed