The concentration of minerals in the blood of genetically diverse groups of sheep: II. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and chlorine concentrations for three hill-breeds and their crosses at pasture

Abstract

Three-hundred and thirty-four female sheep of the Blackface, Cheviot and Welsh Mountain breeds and the crosses among these breeds kept as one flock at pasture were bled in September 1966. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na and Cl were determined on plasma and P on whole blood. Mean concentrations (mg/100 ml) were: Ca 9-65; P 5-54; Mg 2-02; K 23-2; Na 345; Cl 365; and coefficients of variation (%) 11-1, 18-1, 29-0, 10-5 6-7 and 2-3 respectively.Breed was a highly significant (P < 0-01) source of variation for Ca, P, Mg and Cl, but except for Mg, the contribution to the total variance was small (< 10 %). Average values for cross-bred ewes deviated significantly (P < 0-05) from those of pure-bred for Ca and P concentration. Live-weight, within class, had a small but significant effect on Ca and Mg concentration.The concentration of Ca and Mg declined very significantly with age of ewe, there was a similar trend for K, while ~P showed a slight but steady tendency to increase with age, and Cl showed a more erratic increase.For Ca, barren ewes had a lower concentration ( -0-44 mg/100 ml) than ewes with lambs whilst ewes with single lambs at birth had lower concentrations ( -0-35) than ewes with twins. Other factors with effects too large to be ignored (P < 0-1) were the interaction of breed x no. of lambs (K and Cl) and swayback history (Cl).inbreeding from 0 to 50 %. The animals were born and bred on the farm and managed as one flock The present paper deals with the concentrations since 1955. Five age classes were represented among of a number of minerals in the blood plasma (whole the ewes. Twenty ewes remained in the flock from blood for phosphorus) of sheep in a grassland flock among those which had produced swayback lambs comprising the Scottish

Genetic variation in mineral metabolism of ruminants

“…In this context it is interesting to note that Goldring, Schaible & Davidson (1940) reported a breed difference in the Mn requirement of laying hens and that Schwarz (1970) has recorded differences between genetically different strains of rats in the quantities of Se needed for a 50% protection against dietary liver necrosis.…”

Mineral metabolism of pregnant goats under feed restriction

“…These results may suggest that Oberhasli and Saanen goats have different efficiencies in their bone Ca resorption metabolism. Differences in Mg metabolism were also observed in different cattle breeds (Greene et al 1989) and sheep breeds (Field et al 1969).…”

Production, chemical composition and prostaglandin F-2 content of uterine fluid in pregnant sheep

“…The concentration of Na and in uterine fluid recovered during the last third of pregnancy differed markedly from that in amniotic or allantóte fluids (Table 2). Field, Weiner & Wood (1969). § Values taken from Mellor & Slater (1971).…”