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Subject:
From:
Donna Hansen <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 18 Jun 1999 08:52:22 -0700
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I know how it works in dairy cattle, I would assume the mechanism is
similar in humans. Cows have various levels of calcium in their bones,
muscles, and blood. Calcium is transferred from the bones to the blood and
muscles. If cows are on a diet that is high in calcium, the transfer
mechanism is quite slow, as there is lots of calcium already in the blood
and muscles. For cows on a low calcium diet, the transfer mechanism from
the bones is pretty much in high gear. So when the cow calves and the
demand for calcium suddenly goes up as she is milkning, there is a lot of
calcium transferred from the muscles and blood for the milk, as it takes a
few days for the bone transfer mechanism to kick in, and thus the levels of
calcium for the muscles and blood are pretty low. Symptoms are trembling
legs and body, inabilty to stand, coma and eventually death if not treated
and if the levels are low enough.

Most cows would be treated by an injection of calcium. Most farmers would
try to prevent it by feeding a diet low in calcium for that dry period
preceding the birth of the calf.

Jeez, I hope I remembered that correctly, it's been ages since I had that
question on my exam.

Donna Hansen
Burnaby, British Columbia
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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