420
Mineral Deficiency in Equine Abortion
however, exists for mineral deficiency, particularly of calcium as the cause of
these abortions. On an average four to seven abortions used to take place
in this farm prior to 1929. The authorities introduced the " churn " flour
in 1929 for the purpose of improving the bone of their young stock.
Abortions disappeared almost simultaneously. Finding that there was no
real improvement in the bone of the progeny, the authorities discontinued
the use of "churn" from March 1934. Abortions began to reappear.
There were two cases in 1935 and twelve cases in 1936.
The case that has been made out for calcium deficiency is also supported
by the determination of the serum calcium of the brood mares. At Mukteswar,
the normal calcium content of equines has been found, on an average, to be
12.3 mgms. per 100 c.c. of blood serum. The normal variation has ranged
between 11 and 13 mgms. and the extreme variations ranged from 10 to 15
mgms. These figures are generally in agreement with those of Errington
[1937] who found that the mean figures are 12.67±0.048 mgms. per 100
c.c. and that the variation ranges from 11.50 to 13.70 mgms. But the cal-
cium content of mares at Ahmednagar ranged from 7.71 mgms. to 8.7 mgms.
This finding of hypocalcaemia coupled with the history of appearance and
disappearance of abortions coincident with the withholding and introduction
of the mineral supplement seems to leave no doubt that these abortions were
due to calcium deficiency. In the first instance coincident with the intro-
duction of the mineral supplement and the disappearance of abortion, the
calcium level of the blood serum also recovered to normal as may be seen
from the statement at Appendix II. The few cases of infection with Str.
pyogenes and Esch. coli had perhaps occurred as sequelae to the calcium de-
ficiency. (' Ragazzo ' was known as a good " bone-getter " in his progeny
and this has perhaps made great demands for calcium with consequent in-
creased deficiency and greater frequency of abortions in mares covered by
this stallion.) These views receive support from similar findings in other
farm animals. Meigs [1926] has found that deficiency in calcium predisposes
cows to infection with Brucella abortus and thus leads to abortion. Protracted
deficiency in the ration of breeding cows was found to lead to a considerably
increased number of abortions [Davidson, 1930]. Kossmag [1931], Fraser
[1933] and Hart [1930] have made similar observations with reference to
calcium deficiency. With reference to equines, Wall [1936] describes an
outbreak of abortions among mares in which a deficiency of calcium was found
to be the main cause. The possibility of infection with micro-organisms and
of intoxication with food stuffs were eliminated after a proper examination,
but a deficiency of calcium in the diet and hypocalcaemia in some of the
mares were demonstrated. There is another suggestive experience with
reference to equines. In a certain stud in Burma odd cases of abortions
have been occurring for some years past. Prof. Pfaff, writing of this on
19th August 1933 says : ' In 1932 up to 28th of May no live foals were born.
Abortions occurred on the 28th March, 30th April, 1st May and 25th May.
On the 1st June cod-liver oil and bone meal were started. Between 28th
May and 1st August no abortions have taken place, but fifteen full term live