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Studies of the skeleton of the sheep: II. The relationship between calcium intake and resorption and repair of the skeleton in pregnancy and lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Benzie ,
A. W. Boyne ,
A. C. Dalgarno ,
J. Duckworth ,
R. Hill  and
D. M. Walker
D. Benzie
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
A. W. Boyne
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
A. C. Dalgarno
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
J. Duckworth
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
R. Hill
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
D. M. Walker
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland
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Extract

1. When Cheviot ewes were fed a daily ration containing about 5 g. of calcium during pregnancy and lactation there was a loss of 6·5% of skeletal mineral by mid-lactation. Two months after the end of lactation this loss was fully replaced.

2. When the daily calcium allowance was about 2 g. the loss was 18·2% by mid-lactation and was not replaced by 2 months after the end of lactation. However, if the calcium intake was raised to about 5 g. at mid-lactation the skeleton was fully recovered by 2 months after the end of lactation.

3. Resorption was always more marked in certain bones than others, the cervical vertebrae, skull and mandible being more sensitive than the ends of the radius and metacarpal and these ends more sensitive than the shafts. This follows the pattern of resorption reported in Part I of this series.

4. In sheep on low calcium intakes the serum calcium levels rose in early lactation and then fell. If extra calcium was given from mid-lactation onwards serum calcium levels rose to normal. If extra calcium was not given the fall in serum calcium levels continued until the end of lactation, when they rose. Serum phosphate levels had a strong tendency to vary inversely with serum calcium levels.

5. The differences in the mineral status of the skeletons, provoked by differences in dietary provision of calcium of the order used in this experiment, were readily seen in radiographs of flesh-free bone. Differences of this magnitude could not be accurately identified in radiographs of live animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , December 1956 , pp. 175 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1956

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References

REFERENCES

Benzie, D., Boyne, A. W., Daloarno, A., Duckworth, J., Hill, R. & Walker, D. M. (1955). J. Agric. Sci. 46, 425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duckworth, J. & Hill, R. (1953). Nutr. Abst. Rev. 23, 1.Google Scholar
Ellinger, G. M., Duckworth, J., Dalgarno, A. & Quenouille, M. H. (1952). Brit. J. Nutr. 6, 235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mills, C. (1953). Chem. & Ind., p. 330.Google Scholar
Thomson, W. & Thomson, A. M. (1953). Brit. J. Nutr. 7, 263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar