Minerals and trace elements in the blood of sucking foals
Ahlswede, V.L.; Paeger H-U; Meyer, H.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 82(3): 113-116
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 1091451 Document Number: 88026
In 2 foaling periods jugular blood was sampled from altogether 57 clinically healthy male or female suckling Hanover Warm-Blooded foals when they were 1 and about 15 and 30 days old. The feed of the mares was mainly of hay and oats and about half had a supplement. From April or May the mares and foals were on pasture. The foals had no supplement, but it was possible for them to take feed from the mare's rack. Minerals and trace elements were estimated in blood plasma of the foals. In the first weeks of life inorganic P rose from 4.9 to 8.9 mg/100 ml, with a sudden increase after the colostrum period, and Cu, which was affected by the foaling month, rose progressively from about 40 to 155 mu g/100 ml. During the test the concentration of K fell from 20.9 to about 18 mg/100 ml and Fe from 442 to, depending on the foaling month, about 200 mu g/100 ml. Other changes were negligible. There was a slow rise in Ca. The amount of Mg was similar to that for adult horses, with a slight rise after the colostrum period, after which it remained steady. Na was constant, with little scatter. There was no clear change in Zn, but it was somewhat higher than for adult horses. The red cell count, Hb and haematocrit declined to some extent, especially initially, but no Fe supplement was considered generally necesary for suckling foals.