Re: Calcium metabloism (fwd)

Joyce Kellenberger (joyce@homer.ca.boeing.com)
Wed, 27 Nov 96 17:45:41 PST

Hey folks - this was the response I received from my vet with regard to
my question of comparing calcium requirements in cows and horses:

> Joyce,
>
> She is right to the extent that blood calcium level is regulated by the
> parathyroid gland, not the diet. But, the diet should be balanced at a 2:1
> Ca:P ratio because that is the ratio that the parathyroid gland is trying to
> maintain due to the fact that bone is 2 parts Ca & 1 part P and is the major
> reservoir of calcium and phosphorus.
> Short term aberrations of Ca & P in the diet are not of any significance but
> are not desirable over the long term. Hopes this helps settle the question.
>
> Dan
>