NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE
187
The results of the line test assays carried out according to the requirements
of the U. S. P. X Interim revision of the assay of cod liver oil for vitamin-D are
shown in Table III.
TABLE III
The result of Vitamin-D assays by laboratory animals, showing the food intake and the
degree of healing for the various test materials
Test Material
Prairie Hay—Lot 45 . .
Prairie Hay—Lot 45 . .
Prairie Hay—Lot 45 . .
Prairie Hay—Lot 55 . .
Beet Pulp—Lot 7 . .
Rickets Diet—21 day controls .
Rickets Diet—31 day controls .
Amount in
Diet
Per cent
45
30
15
45
25
...
...
Number of
Rats
12
4
4
13
5
2
2
Average daily food intake
Rachitogenic
Period
gms.
6.6
5.9
5.9
6.0
5.3
5.9
6.3
Assay period
Test diet
gms.
9.8
8.3
7.8
8.5
6.0
...
...
Latent
Rachitogenic
diet
gms.
8.4
7.1
7.2
8.5
6.7
...
6.5
Average
Degree of
Healing
1.46
0.75
0.00
2.38
0.00
Wide
Metaphyses.
Wide
Metaphyses.
* The line tests were assigned values of O, +, + +, etc., and the numerical value of pluse averaged to give the
data in this column.
Experiments using beet pulp as roughage.—The animals used in this experi-
ment were E-201, a grade Shorthorn steer about one year old, received from a
farm in a vitamin-D deficient condition ; E-185, a grade Guernsey female thirteen
months old ; and E-194, a purebred Holstein, eleven months old.
After being received from the farm, E-201 was maintained for about six
weeks under indoor conditions on a diet similar to that received on the farm.
This included two pounds of prairie hay daily and a grain mixture composed of
corn, oats, and corn gluten meal. The calf was then in excellent experimental
condition for determining the calcium and phosphorus retention of a growing
animal suffering from a vitamin-D deficiency. The deficiency was evidenced
by his rachitic-like condition and the low concentration of calcium and inorganic
phosphorus in the blood plasma as noted in Table IV, the first balance trial for
E-201. After this trial the ration remained the same except for the addition of
5 cc. of viosterol (250 D) daily. The response to this treatment was prompt and
marked. The blood picture was normal within three weeks, the stiffness had
largely disappeared, the animal was more alert and active, and the appetite was
improving. At the end of four weeks he was placed on a balance trial again to
ascertain the nature of the calcium and phosphorus retention on the same mineral
188 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, II
level but with the animal rapidly approaching a normal condition following the
vitamin-D therapy. The improvement in calcium retention from 1.44 grms.
to 6.82 grms. daily was nearly five-fold, while the increase in phosphorus reten-
tion from 1.10 grms. to 2.68 grms. daily was slightly less than three fold.
Shortly after the completion of this second trial observations indicated that
the animal was apparently normal, whereupon the viosterol was removed from the
ration, the experimental schedule otherwise being continued as before. There
was a steady decline in the blood plasma calcium from 10.15 to 6.12 mgm. per
100 cc. and in inorganic phosphorus from 8.26 to 5.05 mgm., during the
next three and one-half months, at which time the other rachitic-like symptoms
began to appear. These observations indicated that body stores of vitamin-D,
and/or calcium and phosphorus had been depleted and the animal was again in a
vitamin-D deficient condition. At this time a third balance trial was run, followed
by a fourth about five weeks after the ration had been again supplemented with
5 cc. of viosterol. As noted in Table IV, the increase in calcium and phosphorus
retention was even more striking than before and serves to indicate the important
role played by vitamin-D in promoting the mineral retention of vitamin-D
deficient calves.
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE
189
TABLE IV
The results of mineral balance trials showing the calcium and phosphorus retention of calves, receiving beet pulp as
roughage, with and without mineral and vitamin-D
supplements
Animal
E-201 . .
E-201] . .
E-201 . .
E-201
. .
E-185
. .
E-185 .
.
E-194] .
.
E-194 .
.
Age at
Begin-
ning
days
...
...
...
...
475
538
430
462
Weight
lbs.
527
539
775
786
485
461
575
625
Supplements
Mineral
None . .
None . .
None . .
None . .
CaCO 3
CaCO 2
CaCO 3 . .
CaCO 3 . .
Vitamin-D
None . .
Viosterol 1 .
None 2 . .
Viosterol 3 .
None . .
Viosterol 4 .
None . .
Viosterol 5 .
Blood Plasma
Total
Ca
mgm. per
100 c.c.
6.42
10.09
6.12
9.29
8.41
11.15
8.30
11.11
Inorganic
P
mgm. per
100 cc.
3.56
6.87
5.05
7.94
3.13
4.98
3.40
6.41
Intake
gms.
71.7
96.4
85.8
102.9
271.2
240.4
356.2
456.0
Mineral Balance (10-Day Period)
Ca
Outgo
gms.
57.2
28.2
79.7
50.1
292.0
184.0
335.5
333.0
Balance
gms.
+ 14.5
+ 68.2
+6.1
+52.8
—20.8
+56.4
+ 20.7
+122.4
Intake
gms.
83.8
83.8
122.2
119.8
38.5
38.9
48.8
72.1
P
Outgo
gms.
72.8
57.0
116.5
96.4
48.8
21.5
45.6
32.3
Balance
gms.
+11.0
+26.8
+5.7
+ 23.4
—10.3
+17.4
+3.2
+39.8
1 Started feeding 5 cc. of viosterol daily 33 days previous to this trial.
2 Viosterol feeding discontinued approximately 3½ months previous to this trial.
3 Started feeding 5 cc. of viosterol daily 40 days previous to this trial.
4 Started feeding 5 cc. of viosterol daily 53 days previous to this trial.
5 Started feeding 5 cc. of viosterol daily 23 days previous to this trial.
190 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, II
It is conceivable that the level of min eral intake may influence the effect
of vitamin-D on mineral retention. E-185 and E-194 developed a severe rachitic-
like condition on a ration of beet pulp and grain mixture furnishing a very limited
calcium intake. A slight-temporary improvement in the blood plasma calcium
resulted when a CaCO 3 supplement was added to bring the intake of E-185 to 40
grms. daily and E-194 to 50 grms. daily. By the end of a month it was declining
again and the physical condition was very poor. E-185 was showing considerable
anorexia, and E-194 was also slightly off feed so that the mineral intake indicated
in the balance trials run at this time is somewhat lower than the prescribed
amounts previously consumed. The results are shown in Table IV as the first
balance trial for each animal, respectively. The inability of vitamin-D deficient
calves to make normal mineral retention on rations supplying an abundance of
calcium and normal phosphorus is indicated by the fact that E-185 was in negative
calcium and phosphorus balance while E-194 was slightly better than in equili-
brium.
A second balance trial was run on each animal after the ration had been
supplemented for some time with viosterol. Under the influence of the added
vitamin-D both animals now showed very satisfactory positive balances of both
calcium and phosphorus, as may be noted in the second trial for each animal as
recorded in Table IV.
Although the appetites were now good, the nutrient and mineral intake of
E-185 was held down to the same amount that she consumed on the previous trial,
but for unavoidable reasons the mineral intake, especially the calcium, was some-
what larger for E-194 in the second trial than in the first. However, the calcium
intake of E-194 was liberal, and more than sufficient in both trials so that the
variation undoubtedly does not introduce any appreciable difficulty in inter-
preting the results. The increase in the calcium intake was approximately 100
grms. for the 10-day period, while the increase in retention was about 102 grms.
The tendency is for the percentage of mineral retention to decrease with an in-
crease in the intake, but even by assuming that the retention of the extra 100
grms. of calcium in the second trial would have been at the same rate as in the
first trial there would have been an increase of only about 5.81 grms. in the second
trial without the added vitamin-D. The fact that over 100 grms. of extra calcium
were retained in the second trial indicates clearly the beneficial effect of the added
vitamin-D.
The results secured with E-185 and E-194 substantiated the observations
already made on E-201 and indicate that a liberal calcium intake will not suffice
to promote adequate mineral retention in calves suffering from a vitamin-D
deficiency.
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE 191
The relation of vitamin-D to aphosphorosis.—Two grade Holstein females,
E-187 and E-190 twelve and ten months of age, respectively, were used in an
attempt to study, the effect of vitamin-D on the mineral retention of calves suffer-
ing from aphosphorosis. The basal ration furnished liberal calcium but a restricted
amount of phosphorous, and was typical of those upon which aphosphorosis deve-
lops except that vitamin-D-free beet pulp was substituted for the usual hay roughage
and the calves were kept indoors. By the end of two months it began to appear
that uncomplicated aphosphorosis could be obtained only in the presence of at
least some vitamin-D. The blood plasma calcium as well as the inorganic phospho-
rus began to decline and the physical condition more nearly resembled that
of the rachitic syndrome than simple aphosphorosis. There was no evidence
of pica. The onset of physical disturbances was rather sudden and severe with
E-190 so that she had to be dropped from the experiment. A balance trial was
run on E-187 although her condition was not that of simple aphosphorosis. The
results of this trial on the basal ration are shown in Table V. The mineral
retention is about what might be expected for a mildly rachitic animal.
192 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, II
TABLE V
The results of mineral balance trials on E-187 showing the calcium and phosphorus retention on the basal ration, 1
basal ration plus phosphorus, and basal ration plus viosterol.
Type of Ration
Basal . . .
Basal plus P 2 . .
Basal plus viosterol 3
Age at
Beginning
days
478
501
574
Weight of
Animal
lbs
694
700
630
Blood Plasma
Total
Ca
mgm. per
100 cc.
8.66
6.12
10.73
Inorganic
P
mgm. per
100 c.c.
3.45
5.26
7.73
Mineral Balance
Intake
gms.
294.5
103.9
270.5
Ca
Outgo
gms.
237.2
127.6
192.2
Balance
gms.
+57.3
—23.7
+ 78.3
(10-day period)
Intake
gms.
77.1
41.1
80.7
P
Outgo
gms.
53.5
63.2
34.6
Balance
gms.
+ 23.6
—22.1
+46.1
1 Basal ration furnished liberal Ca, restricted P, typical of those producing aphosphorosis except that beet pulp was substituted for the customary hay
roughage, and animal was kept indoors. Alterations resulted in development of rachitic syndrome rather than uncomplicated aphosphorosis.
2 NaH 3 PO 4 H 2 O added to increase P intake to 18 grms. daily 7 days previous to this trial. Animal badly off feed during this trial.
3 Animal received viosterol for 2 months previous to this trial.
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE 193
A second trial was run about a week after a supplement of monobasic sodium
phosphate had been added to her ration, to study the effect of added phosphorus
on the calcium and phosphorus retention of vitamin-D deficient animals and to
learn the nature of the mineral retention of such animals receiving a liberal in-
take of both calcium and phosphorus. The animal became worse rapidly and
went off feed so badly that a satisfactory balance trial to indicate the effect of
added phosphorus was not obtained. The results of the trial are shown in Table V.
The fact that a severe breakdown seemed to be hastened would indicate that
the effect undoubtedly was not very favourable.
The phosphorus supplement was now removed from her ration and viosterol
added. As the animal was nearing recovery a third balance trial was run with
the ration, adjusted to duplicate that of the first trial except for the added viosterol.
The results given in Table V show a considerable improvement in both the calcium
and phosphorus retention over that obtained when the animal was mildly deficient
in vitamin-D and thus substantiate the previous observations as to the favourable
effect of vitamin-D.
DISCUSSION
The favourable effect of vitamin-D on the calcium and phosphorus retention
of calves suffering from a vitamin-D deficiency is strikingly shown by the results
obtained with E-201, E-185, and E-194. The vitamin-D deficiency of these
animals was indicated by sub-normal concentrations of calcium and inorganic
phosphorus in the blood plasma, stiffness, bending of the knees, swelling of the
knee, hock and pastern joints, humping of the back, and often some inanition.
As shown in Table VI, the average daily retention of these calves at an age when
bone mineralization should have been progressing rapidly was only 0.51 grms.
of calcium and 0.24 grms. of phosphorus. When viosterol was added to supply
vitamin-D, and without any other appreciable change in the ration, there was
a marked increase in the calcium and phosphorus retention in every case, the daily
average now being 7.49 grms. of calcium and 2.68 grms. of phosphorus. These
amounts represent essentially normal retentions. The increase brought about
by the vitamin-D administration in from three to seven weeks was approximately
fourteen-fold for calcium and eleven-fold for phosphorus. Coincident with the
marked improvement in the mineral retention there was a prompt return of the
calcium and inorganic phosphorus of the blood plasma to normal concentrations,
and a corresponding improvement in the physical well-being of the calf. With
such decided and consistent results there can be no doubt of the important role
played by vitamin-D in promoting the retention and utilization of calcium and
phosphorus by calves under these conditions.
L
194 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, II
TABLE VI
The calcium and phosphorus retention of calves before and after vitamin-D administra-
tion
Animal Number
E-201 . . . . . . . . . .
E-201 . . . . . . . . . .
E-185 . . . . . . . . . .
E-194 . . . . . . . . . .
Average (10-days period) . . . . . .
Daily average . . . . . . . .
Mineral Balance (Ten-Day Period)
Before feeding
viosterol
Ca
gms.
+14.4
+ 6.1
—20.8
+20.7
+5.1
+0.51
P
gms.
+11.0
+5.7
—10.3
+3.2
+2.4
+0.24
After feeding
viosterol
Ca
gms.
+68.2
+52.8
+56.4
+122.4
+74.9
+7.49
P
gms.
+26.8
+23.4
+17.4
+39.8
+26.8
+2.68
Increasing the mineral content of the ration of vitamin-D deficient calves
had no such favourable influence on the mineral retention. Increasing the calcium
intake of E-185 and E-194 to 40—50 grms. daily failed to promote adequate mineral
retention, in fact, E-185 was in negative balance. Although the evidence for
the effect of added phosphorus in the case of E-187 is not as conclusive, the fact
that adding a liberal amount of phosphorus to the ration of this animal suffering
from a mild vitamin-D deficiency did not prevent, and may even have hastened,
a severe breakdown so that a satisfactory balance trial could not be obtained
would cast considerable doubt on the possibility of any beneficial effects of the
added phosphorus.
Further information on the mineral retention of normal growing calves is
also afforded. Data for the mineral retention of four normal calves, seven to ten
months of age, have been given in Table I. As the calves in the experimental
group receiving prairie hay as roughage completed the experiment in essentially
normal condition, and the rations were similar to those commonly fed in practice,
it would seem that these results might also be considered as representative of
essentially normal retentions. The data for this group have been given in Table
II. When the results of the above two groups are averaged together, the grand
average of all the balances with essentially normal calves shows an average daily
retention of 6.42 grms. of calcium and 3.22 grms. of phosphorus. These results
corroborate the work of Lindsey, Archibald, and Nelson (7), who obtained normal
retentions of 7.74 grms. of calcium and 3.52 grms. of phosphorus daily for a high
calcium group and 4.45 grms. of calcium and 2.15 grms. of phosphorus daily for
a low calcium group.
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE 195
The average normal daily retention of 6.42 grms. of calcium and 3.22 grms.
of phosphorus obtained in this work is almost exactly in a two to one ratio irres-
pective of the varying amounts in the ration fed. This closely approximates the
ratio of these two elements in the bodies of growing and mature cattle. Lindsey,
Archibald, and Nelson (7) noted the same relationship in their work with normal
animals. It is of interest to note that in this work the slight average daily posi-
tive balances of 0.51 grms. of calcium and 0.24 grms. of phosphorus shown by
the rachitic calves are also in an approximately two to one ratio. Also, that the
loss of calcium and phosphorus in the case of E-185 showed this ratio. Such
observations indicate an ultimate interdependence between the two elements
and suggest that a deficiency in one might be responsible for a lack of retention
of the other.
The fact that the calves receiving prairie hay as roughage continued through-
out the experiment in an apparently normal condition irrespective of whether or
not they received any vitamin -D supplement, whereas those on a similar or
even higher mineral intake but receiving beet pulp soon showed symptoms of a
vitamin-D deficiency, indicates that the prairie hay undoubtedly carried an ade-
quate amount of the antirachitic factor, while the beet pulp contributed very
little, if any. The vitamin-D assays with laboratory animals furnished corro-
borative and conclusive evidence on the above points. When the two lots of prairie
hay were fed to rachitic rats definite healing was obtained, although it was more
pronounced for one lot than for the other. No signs of healing were evidenced
when the beet pulp was fed.
The assays furnish a basis for estimating the amount of vitamin D supplied
the calves by the hay contained in their rations. Rough calculations indicate
that the average hay allowance supplied the calves with approximately 135 Steen-
bock units of vitamin-D daily, which served to protect the calves from developing
the rachitic-like syndrome on the level of mineral intake furnished by these rations.
Just how much less may have sufficed to protect the animals cannot be deter-
mined from these observations. These estimation indicate that the vitamin-D
requirement of this species is relatively small as compared with the requirement
of infants as recently reported by Hess and Lewis (8), while the fact that an in-
creased mineral intake and changes in the calcium/phosphorus ratio failed to
protect the calves or initiate appreciable healing suggests the possibility that
calves are less independent of vitamin-D than the rat.
Some suggestions as to the amount and length of storage of vitamin-D by
calves are also indicated by the results obtained. The viosterol fed to the calves
as a therapeutic agent supplied roughly 15,000 Steenbock units daily, which is
over 100 times the amount furnished by the hay. The exact amount which would
have proved sufficient is not known but if the vitamin-D in the viosterol had
been used efficiently and the excess stored, the animals should have accumulated
196 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, II
sufficient for protection for a comparatively long period of time. When the
viosterol was removed from the ration of E-201 after the second balance trial
the previous stores of vitamin-D made during two and one-half months of viosterol
feeding were depleted in about three and one-half months, as evidenced by his
physical condition and the low concentration of calcium and inorganic phosphorus
in the blood plasma. The time interval would undoubtedly have been shortened
had the two pounds of prairie hay allowed part of the time been replaced with
beet pulp all of the time. These observations suggest several possibilities. For
instance, the Vitamin-D in irradiated ergosterol may not be the most effective
for this species so that the excess available for storage was small, or it may be
inefficiently absorbed, or if absorbed, it may be re-excreted. It is also possible
that the calf has only limited ability for storing vitamin-D at best. The observa-
tions on these points are very meagre and the possibilities mentioned are made
merely as suggestions. The results do indicate, however, that a young growing
calf may make a storage of vitamin-D under favourable circumstances which
may be used as a. protection against a deficiency of this factor for a varying length
of time under adverse conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions may be drawn from the results of this investiga-
tion.
1. The calcium and phosphorus retention of vitamin-D deficient calves is
very markedly improved by the administration of vitamin-D. The average
calcium retention may be increased fourteen-fold and the phosphorus retention
eleven-fold by vitamin-D therapy.
2. Increasing the mineral content of the ration of vitamin-D deficient calves
has no favourable influence on the mineral retention.
3. Based on the limited evidence obtained, the average daily retention of
normal calves approximated 6.50 grms. of calcium and 3. 25 grms. of phosphorus.
4. Judging from the results of this experiment, calcium and phosphorus are
retained by normal calves in approximately a two to one ratio regardless of varia-
tions in the mineral content of the ration. The statement is equally true for the
small average daily retentions made by calves suffering from a vitamin-D deficiency.
These observations indicate an ultimate inter-relationship between these two
elements and suggest that a shortage of either one in the ration might act as a
limiting factor in the retention of the other.
5. Prairie hay may carry appreciable amounts of vitamin-D. Beet pulp,
on the other hand, probably possesses very little, if any, anti-rachitic potency.
6. A young growing calf may store vitamin-D under favourable conditions
to be used as a protection against a deficiency of this factor for a varying length
of time under adverse conditions.
RELATION OF VITAMIN-D TO CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS RETENTION IN CATTLE 197
7. Uncomplicated aphosphorosis does not develop when all sources of appre-
ciable amounts of vitamin-D are eliminated from rations otherwise similar to
those which ordinarily bring about this condition.
8. Vitamin-D acts to improve the mineral retention of calves suffering from a
rachitic-like syndrome within at least three to seven weeks after its adminis-
tration.
REFERENCES
(1) Rupel, I. W., Bohstedt, G., and Hart, E. B. Vitamin D in the nutrition of the
dairy calf. Wis. Agr. Exp. Sta. Res. Bul. 115, 1933.
(2) Bechdel, S. I., Landsburg, K. G., and Hill, O. J. Rickets in calves. Penn. Agr.
Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 291, 1933.
(3) Huffman, C. F. Make study of rickets in calves. Sunshine counteracts defi-
ciencies in rations which would cause disease. Mich. Quart. Bul., 14, 1, 42-45-
1931.
(4) Gullickson, T. W. The study of the etiology of a rachitic-like syndrome occur-
ring in beef and dairy calves under farm conditions. Ph.D. thesis, University
of Minnesota, 1934.
(5) Eckles, C. H., and Gullickson, T. W. Nutrient requirements for normal growth
of dairy cattle. Jour. of Agr. Res. 42, 603-616, 1931.
(6 Morris, H. P., Nelson, J. W., and Palmer, L. S. Quantitative determination of
calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in feedstuffs and cattle excreta. Ind.
Eng. Chem. (Analytical Edition) 3, 164-166, 1931.
(7) Lindsey, J. B., Archibald, J. G., and Nelson, P. R. The calcium requirements
of dairy heifers. Jour. of Agr. Res. 42, 883-896, 1931.
(8) Hess, Alfred F., and Lewis, J. M. An appraisal of anti-rachitics in terms of rat
and clinical units. Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc. 101 ; 181-184, 1933.