Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137255
Title: THE EFFECT OF SOLANUM GLAUCOPHYLLUM ON CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION IN LACTATING COWS

Author
item CHENG, YAHSHIN - IOWA STATE UNIV., AMES
item GOFF, JESSE
item HORST, RONALD

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2002
Publication Date: 7/23/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine if Solanum glaucophyllum (Sg) could serve as a source of 1,25(OH)2D3 to increase calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) utilization and, therefore, decrease fecal Ca and P excretion in lactating cows. Ten primiparous, lactating Holstein cows were used. Four cows received a diet supplying 0.7% Ca and 0.37% P (control). The remaining 6 cows were fed a diet containing 0.6% Ca and 0.27% P (basal). Dry matter intake was restricted to 13.5 kg/cow/day to ensure the cows consumed all of the experimental diet. Ytterbium (Yb) was used as an indigestible marker to estimate Ca and P digestibility. Following a 2-week adjustment period, 2 g Sg/cow/day was administered via bolus to 3 cows fed the basal diet (basal + Sg). Sg administration continued for 7 days and its effect on fecal Ca and P excretion was compared to cows fed the basal and control diets. Body weight and milk yield were not significantly different among treatments. There was no significant difference in fecal Ca excretion between the control (93 +/- g/d) and basal (84 +/- g/d) groups. Fecal Ca excretion, however, was significantly (p less than or equal to 0.1) decreased to 54.3 +/- g/d in the basal + Sg group. Fecal P excretion was significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) decreased in animals receiving the basal diet (17 +/- 1.8 g/d) and further reduced in the basal + Sg diet (13.3 +/- 0.7 g/d) group compared to those on the control diet (33 +/- 2.5 g/d). Although P excretion was less in the basal + Sg group compared to basal group, the difference was not significant. Plasma 1,25(OH)2D3, Ca, and P concentrations were significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) increased by Sg treatment. Total fecal dry matter was lowest in the basal + Sg group (4.2 +/- 0.3 kg/d) compared to the control (5.0 +/- 0.3 kg/d) and basal (5.0 +/- 0.7 kg/d) groups. The difference, however, was not significant. The data suggest that Sg could be used to effect changes in Ca and perhaps P utilization in cows. The most dramatic effect on fecal P excretion, however, was achieved by reducing P intake.