Factors causing alterations of the level of inorganic phosphorus in the blood of zebu cattle

Abstract

Studies have been made on calcium and inorganic phosphorus in pasture grass and their relationship to blood levels in Zebu cattle.Excitement, adrenaline injections and fatigue were investigated as possible causes of variations in the inorganic-phosphorus levels of the blood of Zebu cattle.Sudden rainfall appeared to cause alterations in the inorganic phosphorus levels of blood. This hypothesis, when tested on two separate batches of cattle on two occasions, showed that there was a highly significant relationship between water intake and the level of inorganic phosphorus of Zebu cattle blood.Water starvation caused a steady increase in the level of inorganic phosphorus and when water was available for the cattle to drink the inorganic phosphorus level fell rapidly to a subnormal level before returning to normal. These results are discussed in the light of the available literature.