Normal blood levels of calcium and inorganic phosphorus in thorough-bred horse

Abstract

The normal blood inorganic phosphorus and calcium levels of through-bred horse has been studied in the present paper. For this purpose, 108 animals maintained in the Jockey Club of São Paulo, Brazil, under uniform conditions of ambient, work, feeding and treatment were available. The average values for inorganic phosphorus, obtained and expressed in terms of mg percent, on 67 determinations, in males, were: 3.23 ± 0.355, 2.82 ± 0.354, 2.17 ± 0.146, 2.57 ± 0.198, 2.87 ± 0.341 and 3.12 ± 0.190, respectively for animals 2-7 year-old. A total of 39 determinations were performed on 3-4-5 year-old females; the averages were respectively: 2.48 ± 0.166, 2.30 ± 0.181 and 2.82 ± 0.290. The difference of the average of the males and females must be attributed to chance variations, according to the. application of F-test. Gathering in two groups, males and females, and calculating the t-test, the AA. came to the conclusion that the difference of the averages, concerning blood phosphorus, is not submitted to fluctuation of simple samples. The calcium levels for males in age which varied from 2-7 year-old, respectively, were:12.83 ± 1.267, 12.79 ± 0.987, 11.47 ± 1.097, 11.41 ± 1.192, 9.98 ± 1.088 and 13.59 ± 0.996. The calcium levels for 3-4-5 year-old females were, 12.38 ± 1.24-3, 11.02 ± 1.119 and 11.20 ± 1.261 respectively. Determination of F-test for males and females, separately, indicates that the difference of the average is not statistically significant. Gathering on one side the males and on the other side the. females, the comparison for both, through the calculation of t-test reveals that, no statistical significance exists between the different averages values, as sex influence. The correlation coefficient, the regression equations, graphically illustrated, and the P/Ca ratio are presented.