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Calcium and magnesium absorption and retention by growing goats offered diets with different calcium sources

Monday, March 14, 2016: 3:00 PM
304-305 (Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center)
J. E. Long , Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR
Ken P. Coffey , University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR
J. D. Caldwell , Purina Animal Nutrition Center LLC, Gray Summit, MO
D. Philipp , University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR
R. T. Rhein , Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR
A. N. Young , Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR
Abstract Text:

Calcium addition is necessary in order to balance the high phosphorus concentrations in high-concentrate diets. However, calcium sources differ in their bioavailability. The objective of this study was to determine apparent Ca and Mg absorption and retention in goats offered diets containing different sources of Ca. Spanish-Boar goats (n=16; 19.6 ± 1.88 kg) were stratified by weight and randomized to dietary treatments consisting of Purina Antlermax® 16 containing either calcium carbonate (CC), Calmin® (CM) or Milk Cal® (MC). Goats were offered their respective diets at a total of 2% of BW in equal feedings at 0830 and 1800h while housed in 1.0 x 1.5 m pens with plastic-coated expanded metal floors. Goats were offered increasing amounts of a control corn-based high-concentrate diet on mixed bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) pasture until they were consuming the diet at 2% of BW. They were then moved to individual pens and adjusted to their respective diets along with removal of hay from the diet over a 7-d period.  Goats were then offered their respective diets for an additional 14-d adaption period to diet and facilities. Total urine and feces were then collected for 7 d and analyzed for Ca and Mg by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Calcium and Mg intake were not different (P ≥ 0.12) among diets. Calcium apparent absorption and retention (g/d and % of Ca intake) were greatest (P < 0.05) in goats offered CC and did not differ (P ≥ 0.20) between goats offered the CM and MC diets. Magnesium apparent absorption and retention (g/d and % of Mg intake) were greatest (P < 0.05) in goats offered CC and did not differ (P ≥ 0.69) between goats offered the CM and MC diets. Therefore, calcium and magnesium were more available for goats from the diet containing calcium carbonate compared with diets containing Calmin and Milk Cal. 

Keywords: Calcium carbonate, Calcium absorption, Goats