Calcium and Magnesium importance

• Calcium importance in the body

  • 99% in bones
  • 1% in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, blood clotting, cell division, enzyme & hormones
• Calcium metabolism when blood calcium is low

  1. Stimulation of parathyroid hormone

  2. Activation of cholecalciferol in liver (Vit D3)

  3. Formation of hydroxycholecalciferol

  4. Further activation on kidneys to dihydroxycholecalciferol

  5. Synthesis of Ca- binding protein - act on gut, kidneys, and bones to rise blood Ca
• Milk fever

  Low blood calcium, AKA hypocalcaemia
• How to prevent milk fever

  1. Calcium at calving

  2. Vit D at calving

  3. Low Ca diet when dry
• Magnesium importance in the body

  • 70% in bones
  • Dissolved magnesium needed for enzyme activity for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism
• Grass staggers AKA Hypomagnesaemic tetany

  • Low blood Mg
  • Rapid onset
  • Small buffer of available Mg relative to output
• Hyperlipaemia / fatty liver

  • Excessive mobilisation of body fat
  • High levels of lipid in blood
  • Fat infiltration of organs leading to failure
• Urolithiasis

  • Stones in kidney or bladder
  • Salts precipitate from urine
  • Forms crystals in kidney or bladder
• Predisposing factors of Urolithiasis

  • gender - Male
  • Diet - high levels of P & Mg
  • animals - Dogs, cattle, sheep
• Symptoms of urolithiasis

  • Wide leg posture
  • Strain to pass urine
  • Blood stained urine
  • Crystals around penis
• Prevention of urolithiasis

  • Suitable balanced diet - calcium supplement, minimise Mg or P
  • Avoid breeding from recurrent cases (culling)