In the present studies, the effects of dietary high-potassium and high-urea on the metabolism of magnesium, calcium and potassium were checked as an aid to clarify the pathogenesis of hypomagnesaemia (so-called grass tetany) in ruminant.
A total of 5 Korean native female goats kept in metabolic cage were received high-potassium (Mg: 0.25%, Ca: 0.94%, K: 5.41%), high-urea(Mg: 0.25%, Ca: 0.94%, K: 0.72%) or control (Mg: 0.25%, Ca: 0.94, K: 0.72%) ration for 15 or 21 days. Daily intakes, fecal, and urinary excretions and serum concentrations of magnesium, calcium and potassium were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
The results obtained were summarized as follows:
In high-potassium group, absorption, urinary excretion and serum concentration of magnesium were significantly (p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively) decreased compared with the control group. On the other hand, the body retention was significantly (p<0.01) increased. However, no clinical symptom of hypomagnesaemic tetany was observable throughout the experimental period.
No significant effects on the metabolism and seurm content of calcium were detected in the high-potassium group.
In the high-potassium group, significant increase in absorption (p<0.01), urinary excretion (p<0.05) and body retention (p<0.01) of potassium were recognized. However, no significant difference in the concentration of serum was observable between the two groups.
In high-urea group, no significant difference in the metabolism of magnesium and potassium or in the serum content were recognized compared with the control group.
In high-urea group, tthe absorption, urinary excretion, body retention and serum content of calcium were decreased compared with the control group.
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