Periodic transfer of calcium concentration from forage plants and soil to small ruminants

An experiment was conducted to determine the calcium status of male and female (lactating and non-lactating) grazing goats (thalli breed) during summer and winter seasons at a private goat farm in punjab,pakistan. the samples of forage plants,soil,water,milk,blood,urine and fecal matter of animals were gathered fortnightly for two months of each season for the estimation of calcium. the highest amount of calcium in urine,blood plasma,milk and feces were 102±4.56,135±4.98,117±5.0 mg l-1 and 280± 4.56 mg kg-1,respectively. the maximum amounts of calcium 530±0.21 and 124±2.65 mg kg-1 was found in soil and forage samples while minimum amount 54±0.54 mg l-1 in canal water. it was concluded that the available concentrations of calcium to animals through forage plants were in-sufficient to meet the dietary requirements of animals. it is therefore,an emergent need of calcium supplementation either through soil or in the feed of animals that will ultimately improve the animal health by minimizing metabolic disorders. © 2012 zoological society of pakistan.