Studies in mineral metabolism XXVII. The effect of two different calcium phosphorus ratios upon the growth of calves

Abstract

Two groups of calves were used. In one the CaO: P₂O₅ ratio of the diet as a whole was kept constant at 1: 14 (the ratio obtaining in milk) while in the other the ratio was kept at 1: 0.3 by the feeding of additional CaCO₃. Every calf was fed 10 lb. whole milk per day, to obviate deficiency of vitamin D, and in the second group the mineral supplement was fed in the milk. No difference in rate of growth was noticeable after 9 months on these diets, suggesting that, provided there is sufficient Ca and P, the ratio CaO: P₂O₅ is of secondary importance.