Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium homeostasis in ruminants

Abstract

Significant advances have been made in the last 30 years in the understanding of Ca, PO4, and Mg homeostasis in ruminants. Despite these advances, the primary cellular or molecular lesions responsible for failure of homeostasis have yet to be identified. Suggested causes, such as primary hormone deficiencies, have been eliminated, and we now believe that aging and nutrition can reduce the ability of intestine, bone, and kidney to respond rapidly to the hormone signals responsible for homeostasis during rapid increases in demand for these minerals. Further research is required before these lesions can be identified and new knowledge applied to the development of economical, effective programs that prevent milk fever and hypomagnesemic tetany. Until then, diseases such as milk fever will continue to affect 8 to 9 per cent of our dairy cows, and dairy farmers will continue to spend millions of dollars a year for treatment of the primary disease and the many secondary problems that result from these diseases.