Calcium requirements of the young lamb. II. Estimation of calcium requirements by the factorial method

Abstract

Four groups of lambs received liquid diets providing 50, 250, 450, and 650 mg calcium/kg liveweight/day between 5 and 70 days of age. Calcium balance measurements were used to determine the retention and apparent availability of calcium. Retention was also estimated from cohort slaughter analyses. Estimates were made of dietary calcium requirements for lambs of 10 kg and 18 kg liveweight gaining weight at 100, 200, 300, and 400 g/day. These estimates for lambs of 10 kg liveweight were 1.0, 1 .9, 2.9, and 3.9 g calcium/day and for lambs of 18 kg 1.2, 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8 g calcium/day respectively.