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Sheep Hematology from Birth to Maturity III. Serum Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium¹

Michigan State University, East Lansing

Abstract

Calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels in serum from birth to maturity were studied in 316 Suffolk, Shropshire, and Hampshire sheep. There were 3827 determinations on samples obtained at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hr.; at 5, 8 and 14 days; at 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 12 months; at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation; at parturition and at 14 days postpartum. No significant differences were observed among the three breeds involved or between the 2 years in which the study was conducted. Serum calcium and phosphorus reached maximum concentrations by 2 and 5 days of age, respectively, and decreased throughout maturity. Serum magnesium levels tended to rise during growth and became even more elevated during gestation as compared to birth levels. Potassium concentration in serum decreased slightly as growth and maturation occurred, but the sodium concentration was highly variable from birth to maturity.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 3466

² Department of Animal Husbandry. We wish to thank Byron Good, James Cretcher, Larry Cotton and Tom Wiese for their cooperation and assistance in this project.