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A combination of a mineral balance and a radioisotope technique has been used to study the effect of increased intakes of dietary calcium and phosphorus on the Ca and P metabolism of mature, Ca-replete wether sheep. Between Ca intakes of 40 and 100 mg/ day per kg body weight Ca absorption remained constant at a level just sufficient to supply maintenance requirements. Above 100 mg/day per kg body weight, however, absorption increased in direct relation to intake. It is suggested that the increased absorption occurred by diffusion and that at lower Ca intakes, increased diffusion was offset by a corresponding decrease, until it reached a negligible level, in the rate of active absorption.
In spite of the fact that the wethers were already Ca-replete, the increased Ca absorption resulted in increased Ca retention and not as might have been expected in increased excretion. Increased retention was brought about by a decrease in the rate of bone resorption and bone accretion remained constant. Maximum retention occurred when bone resorption ceased and it was equal to the rate of bone accretion. It was only when retention of Ca reached a maximum that further increases in absorption resulted in increased excretion of Ca into urine and intestine. P retention was also increased with increased Ca and P intakes and probably occurred as a result of the increased Ca retention.
The relevence of these findings to the control of parturient paresis (milk fever) in the dairy cow by dietary manipulation is discussed.
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