Hello to Jane Bradshaw and your vetinarian husband. After reading the rabbit thread, I feel brave enough to ask about some more comparative biochemistry. Our provincial newspaper is advertising for farmers to apply magnesium now, to redress the problems of lowered milkfat producton and metabolic disorders in stock. I have always been interested in magnesium as a deficient mineral in some pregnancies, as it is used as a treatment for pre eclampsia,(though repeatedly stated that magnesium shortage is not the cause of pre-eclampsia.) In my farming background, I have vivid memories of magnesium injections saving the lives of pregnant sheep and cows. Would our lactnetting vets, biochemists, physiologists,or dietitians care to comment on the role of magnesium, and whether supplementing mothers of low gaining human babies with magnesium would help anyone- or just the chemical companies as always. Mary Grant RN, RM, IBCLC in rural New Zealand.