Serum mineral concentrations in relation to parturition in

beef heifers and cows fed conserved forage

Julie A. Small
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Farm, Nappan, Nova Scotia, Canada B0L 1C0. Received 11 April
1996, accepted 24 September 1996.

Small, J. A. 1997. Serum mineral concentrations in relation to parturition in beef heifers and cows fed conserved forage.
Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 63–68. A study was undertaken to examine the relationship between serum mineral concentrations and calv-
ing ease in beef cattle fed conserved forage. Jugular blood samples were taken from multiparous cows (n = 6) and 2-yr-old prim-
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17

parous heifers (n = 9) that calved without assistance and 2-yr-old primparous heifers that required assistance with calving (n = 6)
on days –7, 0 and +7 after parturition. Sera were analyzed for Ca, P, Mg, K, S, Na, Cu, Zn and B by ICAP and for progesterone
by RIA. From 2 mo before and throughout the calving season cattle were given ad libitum round bale grass-legume silage (2.89%
K; 3.4% P; 13% CP, 40% ADF; 38% DM). Heifers were also given 0.5 kg hd–1 d–1 of a grain supplement beginning 3 wk before
calving. At calving, cows and heifers were in moderate body condition (5.26 ± 0.14 BCS) and heifers had reached 85% of mature
body weight (475 ± 26 kg). Serum progesterone concentrations were highest (P < 0.05) at –7 d and dropped below 1 ng mL–1 at
parturition and +7 d. Concentrations of serum Mg, S and K were highest (P < 0.05) whilst concentrations of P, B and Cu were
lowest (P < 0.05) at parturition. However, serum Mg and S also differed (P < 0.05) among calving groups because concentrations
were lowest for heifers with assisted calvings and, serum K concentrations were influenced (P < 0.05) by interaction between calv-
ing group and time because K concentrations increased at parturition only in cows and heifers with unassisted calvings. Serum Zn,
Ca, and Na were not (P < 0.05) influenced by calving group or time. It is concluded that Mg, S, K, P, B and Cu metabolism are
involved in the physiology of parturition and Mg, S and K metabolism may be particularly important for calving ease in prim-
parous beef heifers fed conserved forage.
For personal use only.

Key words: Parturition, minerals, beef cattle, potassium, boron, magnesium

Small, J. A. 1997. Concentrations sériques de minéraux à la parturition chez des génisses et chez des vaches adultes ali-
mentées aux fourrages conservés. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 63–68. Nous avons examiné les rapports entre les concentrations
minérales du sérum et la facilité de vêlage chez des bovins à viande nourris de fourrages conservés. Des prélèvements de sang
jugulaire étaient effectués au vêlage, 7 jours avant et 7 jours après sur des vaches multipares (n = 6) et sur des génisses primipares
de 2 ans qui avaient soit vêlé sans assistance (n = 9) ou avec assistance (n = 6). L’analyse du sérum était faite par ICAP pour Ca,
P, Mg, K, S, Na, Cu, Zn et B et par dosage radioimmunologique (DRI) pour la progestérone. A partir de 2 mois avant et durant
toute la période de vêlage, les bêtes recevaient à volonté de l’ensilage graminée-légumineuse en balles rondes (2,89 % K, 3,4 % P,
13 % PB, 40 % ADF, 38 % Ms). En plus, à partir de 3 semaines avant le vêlage, les génisses recevaient chacune 1/2 kg par jour
de complément de grain. Au vêlage, la note d’état corporel des vaches et des génisses était modérée (5,26 ± 0,14) et les génisses
avaient atteint 85 % de leur poids adulte (475 ± 26 kg). Les teneurs sériques en progestérone atteignaient un pic (P < 0,05) 7 jours
avant le vêlage pour retomber à moins de 1 ng mL–1 au vêlage et 7 jours plus tard. Au vêlage, Mg, S et K atteigaient leurs valeurs
les plus fortes (P < 0,05) et P, B et Cu leurs valeurs les plus basses (P < 0,05). Pour Mg et S, on notait également des différences
(P < 0,05) selon le corportement au vêlage, les valeurs les plus basses étant obtenues chez les génisses à vêlage assisté. En outre
dans le cas de K, les concentrations étaient influencées (P < 0,05) par l’interaction facilité de vêlage-temps. C.-à-d. qu’elles n’aug-
mentaient au vêlage que chez les vaches et les génisses vêlant sans aide. Les concentrations de Zn, Ca et Na étaient stables (P >
0,05) indépendamment du comportement au vêlage et du temps. Il appert que le métabolisme de Mg, S, K, P, B et Cu joue un rôle
dans la physiologie de la parturition. Mg, S et K seraient particulièrement importants pour la faciliter de vêlage chez les génisses
de type à viande nourries de fourrages conservés.

Mots clés: Parturition, minéraux, bovins de boucherie, potassium, bore, magnésium

Parturition in ruminants is initiated by the fetus. Successful
passage of the fetus is dependent upon the ability of the
uterus to contract and the capacity of the cervix to dilate
(Bazer and First 1983). Endocrine changes around the time
of parturition are associated with the final maturation of the
fetus, termination of pregnancy, expansion of the birth
canal, initiation of uterine contraction, maternal behavior
and milk synthesis and secretion (Bazer and First 1983).
Dystocia is a reproductive problem that occurs primarily
in first-calf heifers. The economic costs of difficult calving
include loss of calf, loss of dam, veterinary fees, farm labor,
63
increased risk of subsequent reproductive problems includ-
ing prolonged postpartum anestrus and failure to conceive
(Meijering 1984). Breeding strategies, culling and proper
management procedures such as feeding prior to calving and
Abbreviations: ICAP inductively coupled argon plasma
spectrophotometry, RIA radioimmunoassay, DM dry mat-
ter, CP crude protein, ADF acid detergent fiber, BCS body
condition score, CAD cation-anion difference, SE standard
error, TCORN Technical Committee on Responses to
Nutrients
 64 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Table 1. Nutrient composition of foragez offered to prepartum beef Table 2. Calving ease, body weightz, body condition scorez, and
heifers and cowsy gestation length of beef cows and heifers and birthweight and sex of
their calves
Nutrient (kg–1 DM) Round bale grass-legume silage
Cow Heifers
Calcium (g) 5.5
3–8 yr of age 2 yr of age SEM
Phosphorus (g) 3.4
Potassium (g) 29.8 Unassisted calving (%) 100 60
Magnesium (g) 1.9 (n) (6/6) (9/15)
Sodium (g) 0.1 Body condition score 5.43 5.06 0.24
Sulfur (g) 1.5 Body weight (kg) 556 475 26
Copper (mg) 6.4 Gestation length (d) 287 286 1.6
Iron (mg) 376.0 Birth weight
Manganese (mg) 50.4 Female calves (kg) 37.7 38.0 3.1
Zinc (mg) 23.3 (n) (2) (8)
Molybdenum (mg) 1.8 Male calves (kg) 43.6 41.2 2.2
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17

Cobalt (mg) 0.8 (n) (4) (7)

Crude protein (g) 130.8 zAt Parturition.
Acid detergent fiber (g) 399.3
zForage contained 37.9% DM.
yA mineral supplement was provided (0.5 g kg–1 body weight) free-choice supplement contained magnesium sulfate to lower the CAD
and contained 199 kg dicalcium phosphate, 400 kg magnesium sulfate, 199
kg trace-mineralized salt, 3 kg copper sulfate and 8 g selenium per tonne. of the diet.
Three weeks prior to calving, all cows and heifers were
given an intramuscular injection of vitamins A and D3 (5
special rearing of heifers significantly reduce the risk of mL @ 500 000 IU A and 75 000 IU D3; Rogar/STB Inc.,
dystocia. Montreal, PQ). Cows and heifers were in moderate body
Quality forages usually contain high K concentrations condition (where 1 = emaciated to 9 = obese) at calving and
which increase the dietary CAD resulting in an excess of heifers had reached 85% of mature body weight (Table 2)
base ions (Fisher et al. 1994). Excess dietary cations have which has been recommended for best calving and postpar-
been shown to impair the metabolism and/or utilization of tum reproductive performance (Dunn et al. 1969). The aver-
For personal use only.

other nutrients, particularly that of Ca, mainly during stress-
ful periods such as calving (Block 1984). In the precalving
cow, metabolic alkalosis due to a high cation diet may result
in metabolic acidosis in the calf at the time of parturition
which inhibits the induction of respiration in the newborn.
High K concentrations in forages can also reduce the avail-
ability of dietary Mg (Grunes and Welch 1989) and subclin-
ical hypomagnesia has been shown to reduce the ability of
cows to mobilize Ca at parturition (Sansom et al. 1983;
Braak et al. 1987).
There is a lack of information on the role of minerals in
beef cattle parturition. This study characterized serum min-
eral concentrations in beef cows and heifers around the time
of parturition and examined the relationship with calving
ease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Animals and Animal Management
The study was conducted with the closed beef herd at the
Nappan Research Farm, Nappan, Nova Scotia Hereford
(87% + n = 6) multiparous cows and primparous 2-yr-old
heifers that consisted of Hereford (87% + n = 11) and milk-
ing Shorthorn × Hereford (n = 9) breeds were housed in one
barn, bedded with straw. Cows were kept in one pen and
heifers were assigned to one of two pens based on predicted
calving date. Three weeks prior to calving, each pen of
heifers were given a concentrate ration (0.5 kg hd–1 d–1) that
consisted of crushed barley (83.8%), soybean meal (13.5%
at 48% CP, vitamins A, D, E (0.2%) and mineral supple-
ment (2.5%). All cows and heifers were given round bale
grass-legume silage ad libitum (Table 1). Water and miner-
al supplement were provided free choice. The mineral
age calving date was 29 January ± 2.7 d. Calving difficulty
was scored unassisted or assisted. Assistance by hand pull,
chains or calving jack was given if the calf was not delivered
within 90 min of rupture of fetal membranes or if there was
no progress after 60 min of severe straining. The cows and
heifers used in this study all gave birth to calves that were
presented normally and survived until weaning. The three
calving groups were cows unassisted (n = 6), heifers unas-
sisted (n = 9) and heifers assisted (n = 6) with calving.
Animal management was in accordance with guidelines
of the Canadian Council of Animal Care (1980) and the
Canadian Code of Practice for the care and handling of beef
cattle (Agriculture Canada 1991).
Sampling Procedures and Analysis
Samples of forage (16 pooled samples) were taken at the
time of conservation and the nutrient composition (Table 1)
was known prior to the overwintering period. Oven DM, CP
[method #984.13, Association of Official Analytical
Chemists (1990)] and ADF (Goering and Van Soest 1970)
were determined. Air-dried samples (20 g) were sent to Nor-
West Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta for mineral analysis
by inductively coupled mass spectrophotometry. Dietary K+
(Ca++ + Mg++) ratio was calculated on a milliequivalent kg–1
DM basis (Grunes and Welch 1989).
Initial blood samples (–7 d) were taken 1 wk prior to the
285-d predicted calving date. As a result of this schedule,
the average time of gestation when initial samples were
taken was 279 ± 0.9 d. Subsequently, blood samples were
taken within 6 h of calving (0 d) and 1 wk after calving
(+7 d). All blood samples were taken by jugular venipunc-
ture into non-heparinized (20-mL) vacutainer tubes. Blood

Table 3. Serum Mg, S, K, P, B, Cu, Ca, Na and Zn concentrations in parturient beef cows and heifers
Time relative to calving (d)
Mineral –7
Magnesium (mmol L–1)y 0.64
Sulfur (mmol L–1)y 25.4
Potassium (mmol L–1)x 3.82
Phosphorus (mmol L–1) 3.55
Boron (µmol L–1) 11.96
Copper (µmol L–1) 9.05
Zinc (µmol L–1) 10.76
Sodium (mmol L–1) 120.5 119.7
Calcium (mmol L–1) 1.93
zdf = 34.
yMg and S also influenced by calving group (see Table 4).
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17
xK influenced by interaction with calving group (see Table 5).
samples were left at room temperature for 4 h or in the
refrigerator overnight to allow clot formation. Samples were
then centrifuged and sera removed and stored frozen in acid-
washed (10% nitric acid) polyethylene vials. Progesterone
concentrations in serum were determined by RIA (Coat-a-
count®, Diagnostic Products Corp., Los Angeles, CA)
which had 5% within-assay variation. For mineral analysis,
serum (1 mL) was diluted with distilled demineralized water
(5 mL) and concentrations of Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, S, Zn, Cu
and B were determined using ICAP (Jerrel-Ash) in the Nova
For personal use only.
Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing Feed Test
Lab. Mineral concentrations in sera were converted to
molarity by division of ppm by molecular weight.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses of data were performed using the SAS
Institute, Inc. (1985) General Linear Models procedure with
Type IV sums of squares [SAS PC v 6.10; SAS GLM
(Freund and Littell 1981). A split-plot ANOVA contained
the main effect of calving group (cows unassisted, heifers
unassisted and heifers assisted) and subplot effect of time
(–7, 0 and +7 d) described by the following equation:
yijk = µ + βi + τj + δij + ηk + (τη) jk + εijk
where: yijk = mineral concentration in the serum, µ = overall
mean, βi = the effect of the ith animal, τj = the effect of the
jth calving group, δij = experimental error for main effects
(error a: animal within calving group), ηk = subplot effect of
the kth time, (τη)jk = interaction between jth calving group
and kth time, and εijk = experimental error for subplot effects
(error b).
Differences among calving group means were tested using
the Ryan–Einot–Gabriel–Welsch multiple range test
(REGWQ) and the main effects error term (error a).
Differences among days were tested using the REGWQ and
the residual error (error b). Interpretation of significant (P <
0.05) interactions between calving group and time were
based on graphical representation of the least squares
means. Least squares means and SE for differences between
means are reported.
SMALL — SERUM MINERALS AND PARTURITION 65
0 –7 SEz P
0.84 0.67 0.02 <0.001
26.7 25.0 0.32 0.002
5.11 3.59 0.17 <0.001
2.88 3.57 0.07 <0.001
7.27 8.35 0.83 <0.001
7.44 10.33 0.26 < 0.001
11.41 12.72 0.61 0.053
117.7 1.34 0.262
2.00 1.97 0.04 0.676
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This study characterized serum mineral concentrations in
beef cows and heifers around the time of parturition and
examined the relationship with calving ease. Concentrations
of serum progesterone at –7, 0 and +7 d were 1.80, 0.24 and
0.13 ng mL–1 (SE = 0.07; P < 0.001; df = 34), respectively.
Serum progesterone concentrations were highest at –7 d and
dropped below 1 ng mL–1 at parturition indicating that the
initial blood sample was taken before regression of the cor-
pus luteum. Serum P4 concentrations were not influenced (P
> 0.05) by calving group or calving group interaction with
time. The fall in serum progesterone concentrations near
term has been shown to occurr as serum estradiol concen-
trations increase (Hafez 1987). The hormonal changes influ-
ence uterine motility by stimulating the release of
prostaglandin (PGF2α) which interacts with the smooth
muscle adenyl cyclase system to lower cyclic-adenosine
monophosphate (cAMP) levels and cause uterine contrac-
tions. Dilation of the cervix is primarily due to changes in
the physical characteristics of cervical collagen such that
under the influence of hormones, such as estradiol and
PGF2α at the onset of parturition, the cervix softens,
becomes more compliant and gradually dilates (Hafez
1987). Thus, changes in mineral concentrations over the
three time periods were considered indicative of metabolic
activity associated with parturition and the early postpartum
period.
Dystocia was not severe enough to cause loss of calf or
the cow, and was not related to the size of the calf.
Assistance was given because of an inability to expel the
calf within a safe margin of time relative to the onset of
labor. However, heifers that calved without assistance tend-
ed to conceive earlier postpartum than heifers that required
assistance (91 vs. 103 ± 5.1 d; P = 0.147) because of return
services. Delayed postpartum conception is a typical conse-
quence of difficult calving (Meijering 1994). Following par-
turition, all cows and heifers produced adequate colostrum
and all calves survived until weaning. Thus, differences in
serum mineral concentrations among calving groups likely
reflected conditions that influenced the ability of the uterus
to contract and/or the cervix to dilate at parturition, differ-
ences that indicate a direction for further research on appro-
priate precalving mineral nutrition for heifers.
 66 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
Table 4. Serum Mg and S concentrations (mmol L–1) in parturient beef cows and heifers that calved without and with assistance
Calving group
I. Cows
Mineral unassisted
Magnesium 0.67
Sulfur 26.8
zdf = 17.
Table 5. Serum K concentrations (mmol L–1) in parturient beef cows and heifers that calved without and with assistance
Time from parturition (d)
Calving group –7
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17
I. Cows unassisted 3.60
II. Heifers unassisted 3.89
III. Heifers assisted 3.98
zdf = 15, 25, 12 for calving groups I, II, and III, respectively.
Serum mineral concentrations relative to calving are
shown in Table 3. Serum Mg, S, P, B and Cu were influ-
enced by time relative to calving without interaction with
calving group. Concentrations of serum Mg and S were
highest whilst concentrations of P, B and Cu were lowest at
parturition. However, serum Mg and S also differed among
calving groups without interaction with time (Table 4)
because concentrations were low for heifers with assisted
For personal use only.
calvings. Serum K concentrations were influenced by inter-
action between calving group and time (Table 5) because of
low concentrations at parturition in heifers with assisted
calvings. Serum Zn, Ca, and Na were not influenced by
calving group or time.
Serum Mg concentrations were highest for heifers with
unassisted calvings than for heifers with assisted calvings,
or cows with unassisted calvings, and were highest at partu-
rition. The influence of prepartum Mg intake on the cellular
resorptivity activity of bone, and Ca mobilization at parturi-
tion is greater in young than older cows (Braak et al. 1987)
which may explain why low serum Mg levels were related
to calving difficulty in heifers but not cows. Subclinical
hypomagnesia has been shown to reduce the ability of cows
to mobilize Ca at parturition (Sansom et al. 1983; Braak et
al. 1987) and it has been suggested that prepartum serum
Mg should be > 0.85 mmol L–1 (Sansom et al. 1983).
Although serum Mg concentrations at –7 d were below the
recommended precalving level, mean concentrations
increased at parturition by ~38% in cows and heifers that
calved without assistance whereas only a 17% increase
occurred in heifers that required assistance. Therefore, the
optimum precalving level of serum Mg may also be depen-
dent upon other constituents of the diet that influence the
mobilization of Mg at calving.
Serum S concentrations were lower for heifers that
required assistance with calving than cows that calved unas-
sisted and were highest at parturition. Mean serum S con-
centrations for heifers that did not require assistance with
calving did not differ between cows unassisted or heifers
assisted with calving. The placental endometrium contains
sulfatase enzymes that convert androstenedione to estrone
sulfate (Gladsby et al. 1980) and concentrations of estrone
II. Heifers III. Heifers
unassisted assisted SEz P
0.76 0.68 0.02 0.019
25.6 24.6 0.50 0.034
0 +7 SEz P
6.50 3.56 0.50 0.001
4.64 3.62 0.15 < 0.001
4.29 3.58 0.42 0.510
sulfate in maternal peripheral circulation increase through-
out pregnancy (Robertson and King 1979). Serum estradiol
increases and progesterone decreases with the onset of par-
turition (Hafez 1987). Higher concentrations of serum S at
parturition may have been due to an increased demand for S
in conjugation and excretion of estrogen metabolites and
differences among calving groups may have reflected the
extent of estrogen metabolism at this time.
Serum K concentrations were highest at parturition only
for unassisted calving groups. Mean concentrations
increased at parturition by ~80% in cows and ~19% in
heifers that calved without assistance whereas serum K was
not significantly different from prepartum K in heifers that
required assistance with calving. Fenwick (1990) also
reported higher serum K at parturition (~4.3 mmol L–1) in
dairy cows. Precalving concentrations of serum K were typ-
ical of cattle given high K diets (Fisher et al. 1994). The
high dietary concentrations of K likely reduced Mg avail-
ability and contributed to low serum Mg (Grunes and Welch
1989). Although serum K is secreted in milk (Fisher et al.
1994) and the decrease following calving may have in part
reflected K secretion in colostrum and milk, the lack of an
increase at calving in heifers that required assistance sug-
gests a role for K in the process of parturition.
Serum P, B and Cu concentrations were influenced by
time relative to calving. Serum P concentrations were low-
est at calving and at similar higher levels at –7 and +7 d.
Precalving serum P concentrations were indicative of the
high P content of the silage (Technical Committee on
Responses to Nutrients 1991). The drop in blood P concen-
trations at parturition may have been related to secretion
into colostrum (Law et al. 1994). No calving difficulty was
reported for beef cows given a low P diet which induced
very low serum P < 1 mmol L–1 (Bass et al. 1981).
The highest concentrations of serum B occurred prior to
calving and dropped nearly 50% at parturition and were still
low at +7 d. Thus, there appears to be a role for B associat-
ed with high progesterone during gestation and low proges-
terone at parturition in beef cattle. In rats, humans and
sheep, B has been found to influence carbohydrate utiliza-
tion and Ca, Mg, P and Cu metabolism (Spielvogel 1994)

and further investigation may show that B supplementation
has a significant role in the nutrition of peri- and post par-
turient cattle.
Concentrations of serum Cu were lowest at parturition,
highest at +7 d and intermediate at –7 d. Others have shown
that, in dairy cows, serum Cu is lowest prior to calving and
increases during the postpartum period (Ingraham et al.
1987; Xin et al. 1993). Serum Zn concentrations tended to
increase postpartum but levels at parturition were not as low
as those reported for dairy cows (Xin et al. 1993).
Serum Ca and Na were not influenced by time relative to
calving or calving group. Contraction of uterine muscle is
dependent upon an increase in intracellular ionized Ca
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17
(Bazer and First 1983). The proportion of ionized Ca in
serum increases at parturition (Bazer and First 1983), how-
ever this would not be detected in the present study which
measured total Ca. In dairy cows, serum Ca levels below 1.5
mmol L–1 around the time of parturition has been associat-
ed with cases of milk fever, retained placenta and uterine
prolapse (Risco et al. 1994). In the present study serum Ca
was above this critical level for dairy cows, and there were
no postparturient Ca disorders observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Concentrations of progesterone, Mg, S, K, P, B, Cu, Zn, Ca
and Na were determined in blood serum collected at –7, 0
and +7 d after parturition in beef cows and heifers that
For personal use only.
calved without assistance and heifers that required assis-
tance with calving. Serum progesterone concentrations were
highest at –7 d and dropped below 1 ng mL–1 at parturition
and +7 d indicating that the initial blood sample was taken
before regression of the corpus luteum. Concentrations of
serum Mg, S and K were highest whilst concentrations of P,
B and Cu were lowest at parturition. However, serum Mg
and S also differed among calving groups because concen-
trations were low for heifers with assisted calvings. Serum
K concentrations were influenced by interaction between
calving group and time because K concentrations increased
at parturition only in cows and heifers with unassisted calv-
ings. Serum Zn, Ca, and Na were not influenced by calving
group or time. It is concluded that Mg, S, K, P, B, S and Cu
metabolism are involved in the physiology of parturition
and Mg, S and K metabolism may be particularly important
for calving ease in primiparous beef heifers fed conserved
forage.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to express their appreciation to M.
MacKenzie and B. Trueman, Nappan Research Farm, for
sample preparation and care of animals.
Agriculture Canada. 1991. Recommended code of practice for
the care and handling of farm animals: Beef Cattle. Agriculture
Canada, Ottawa, ON. Publ. no. 1870/E.
Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1990. Official
methods of analysis. 15th ed. AoAC, Washington, DC.
Bass, J. M., Fishwick, G., Hemingway, R. G., Parkins, J. J. and
Ritchie, N. S. 1981. The effects of supplementary phosphorus on
the voluntary consumption and digestibility of a low phosphorus
straw-based diet given to beef cows during pregnancy and early
lactation. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 97: 365–372.
SMALL — SERUM MINERALS AND PARTURITION 67
Bazer F. W. and First N. I. 1983. Pregnancy and parturition. J.
Anim. Sci. 83(Suppl. 2): 425–460.
Block, E. 1984. Manipulating dietary anions and cations for pre-
calving dairy cows to reduce incidence of milk fever. J. Dairy Sci.
67: 2939–2948.
Braak, A. E. Van De, Klooster, A. T. Van’T and Malestein, A.
1987. Influence of a deficient supply of magnesium during the dry
period on the rate of calcium mobilization by dairy cows. Res. Vet.
Sci. 42: 101–108.
Braak, A. E. Van De, Klooster, A. T. Van’T, Goedegebuure, S.
A. and Faber, J. A. J. 1987. Effect of calcium and magnesium
intakes and feeding level during the dry period on bone resorption
in dairy cows at parturition. Res. Vet. Sci. 43: 7–12.
Braak, A. E. Van De, Klooster, A. T. Van’T, Goedegebuure, S.
A. and Faber, J. A. J. 1987. Effect of calcium and magnesium
intakes and feeding level during the dry period on bone resorption
in dairy cows at parturition. Res. Vet. Sci. 43: 7–12.
Canadian Council on Animal Care. 1980. Guide to the care and
use of experimental animals. Volume 1. Canadian Council on
Animal Care, Ottawa, ON.
Dunn, T. G., Ingalls, J. E., Zimmerman, D. R. and Wiltbank, J.
N. 1969. Reproductive performance of two-year old Hereford and
Angus heifers as influenced by pre- and post-calving energy
intake. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 719–726.
Fenwick, D. C. 1990. The relationship between certain blood con-
stuituents in cows with milk fever and the response following treat-
ment with calcium borogluconate solutions. Austr. Vet. J. 67:
102–104.
Fisher, L. J., Dinn, N., Tait, R. M. and Shelford, J. A. 1994.
Effect of dietary potassium on the absorption and excretion of cal-
cium and magnesium by lactating cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 74:
503–509.
Freund, R. J. and Littell, R. C. 1981. SAS for linear models: a
guide to the ANOVA and GLM procedures. SAS Institute, Inc.,
Cary, NC.
Gladsby, J. E., Burton, R. D. and Heap, R. B. 1980. Estrogen
production by blastocyst and early embryonic tissue of various
species. J. Reprod. Fertil. 60: 409–417.
Goering, H. K. and Van Soest, P. J. 1970. Forage fiber analysis:
apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications. Agric.
Handbook 379. Agriculture Research Service, USDA,
Washington, DC.
Grunes, D. L. and Welch, R. M. 1989. Plant contents of magne-
sium, calcium and potassium in relation to ruminant nutrition J.
Anim. Sci. 67: 3485–3494.
Hafez, E. S. E. 1987. Reproduction in farm animals. 5th ed. Lea
and Febiger, Philadelphia, PA.
Ingraham, R. H., Kappel, L. C., Morgan, E. B. and
Srikandakumar, A. 1987. Correction of subnormal fertility with
copper and magnesium supplementation J. Dairy Sci. 70: 167–180.
Law, F. M. K., Leaver, D. D. and Martin, T. J. 1994. Effect of
treatment of dairy cows with slow release bovine somatotropin
during the periparturient period on minerals in plasma and milk
and on parathyroid hormone-related protein in milk. J. Dairy Sci.
77: 2242–2248.
Meijering, A. 1984. Dystocia and stillbirth in cattle–review of
causes, relations, and implications. Livest. Prod. Sci. 11: 143–164.
Risco, C. A., Drost, M., Thatcher, W. W., Savio, J. and
Thatcher, M. J. 1994. Effects of calving related disorders on
prostaglandin, calcium, ovarian activity and uterine involution in
post-partum dairy cows. Theriogenology 42: 183–203.
Robertson, H. A. and King, G. J. 1979. Conjugated and uncon-
jugated estrogen in fetal-maternal fluids of the cow throughout
pregnancy. J. Reprod. Fertil. 55: 463–470.
 68 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
Sansom, B. F., Manston, R. and Vagg, M. J. 1983. Magnesium
and milk fever. Vet. Rec. 112: 447–449.
SAS Institute, Inc. 1985. SAS/STAT® Guide for personal com-
puters. Version 6 ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
Spielvogel, B. F. 1994. Choose a new path: boron biologicals. In
T. P. Lyons and I. C. A. Jacques, eds. Biotechnology in the feed
industry; proceedings of Alltech 10th Annual Symposium
Nottingham University Press, Loughborough, UK; Boron
Biologicals Inc, Raleigh, NC.
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 80.82.77.83 on 06/24/17
For personal use only.
Technical Committee on Responses to Nutrients. 1991. Report
6: a reappraisal of the calcium and phosphorus requirements of
sheep and cattle. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews (Series B) 61:
573–612.
Xin, Z., Waterman, D. F., Hemken, R. W. and Harmon, R. J.
1993. Copper status and requirement during dry period and early
lactation in multiparous Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 76:
2711–2716.