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The inability of horses to absorb calcium from calcium oxalate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

B. J. Blaney
Affiliation:
Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane 4105, Australia
R. J. W. Gartner
Affiliation:
Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane 4105, Australia
R. A. McKenzie
Affiliation:
Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane 4105, Australia

Summary

Six horses were fed Setaria sphacelata var. sericea cv. Narok hay in a mineral balance experiment and were in negative calcium balance. This should have ensured maximum efficiency of calcium absorption. Only 6·3% of calcium from a single dose of 1·32 kg calcium oxalate was retained by the horses, which supports the suggestion that horses cannot utilize calcium in tropical grasses if it is present as calcium oxalate crystals.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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References

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