Effect of Calcium and Phosphorus Levels on Growth, Reproduction and Bone Development of Ponies

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Abstract
Thirty 4-month-old Shetland foals were fed pelleted rations that provided either (1) a calcium-phosphorus ratio of 2:1 (.9% calcium and .45% phosphorus) or (2) a calcium-phosphorus ratio of approximately 6:1 (2.5% calcium and .45% phosphorus) for a 4-year period. At the wider ratio the calcium intake was four to five times greater than the requirements suggested by Schryver and Hintz. However, dietary treatment had no effect on height, average weight gain or reproduction. Scalar selected radiograph projection areas and gamma ray absorption measurements suggest that treatment did affect bone growth. Subperiosteal appositional bone growth achievement was similar; however, the medullary region was relatively larger and the cortical bone area relatively smaller in ponies fed the high calcium diet. These differences in anatomical distribution of areas are accompanied by a decrease in the amount of bone mineral per unit of projection area of the cortex. Copyright © 1975. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1975 by American Society of Animal Science.

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