Calcium- and magnesium-protein complexes of keratin formations in the blood of farm animals in connection with development and productivity

Abstract

Research results indicate that natural labile protein biocomplexes of calcium, which are formed by the type of ion exchange adsorption, constantly occur in the body of farm animals. They exist in the composition of wool, hoof and head horn. Hair keratins are especially rich in calcium in young animals. It has been established that all keratin formations in farm animals contain magnesium and calcium. Most of all calcium (400-200 mg%) is in the dry matter of the wool and less (100-150 mg%) - in the head and hoof horn. With age, its content decreases on average from 400-500 to 200-250 mg% per dry substance. This is especially noticeable in the first 4-5 months of life of calves after the change of juvenile hair cover. Bovine head horn keratins that formed at a young age were also found to be significantly richer in calcium than those that formed later. Calcium enrichment of wool and horn keratins was also noted in young animals. With age, it noticeably decreased. In contrast, the content of more stable calcium and magnesium-protein complexes in the blood of calves increased in the first months of life. It was higher under favorable seasonal feeding and maintenance conditions and sharply decreased during disturbances or during periods of increased physiological stress.