Composition of blood plasma (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, proteins) during the neonatal period in the calf. Influence of the state of health.

The changes in plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and several protein fractions, were studied from birth to the age of twenty days in 68 calves. 32 animals remained healthy while 36 animals suffered from diarrhea but survived. The day of birth the two groups differed biochemically. During the whole period studied, calcemia, phosphatemia and albuminemia of diarrheic calves were systematically lower than those of animals showing no pathologic symptoms. In addition, after intake of colostrum, the increase in total proteins and globulins was much smaller in sick calves than in those which remained healthy. The possible causes of these anomalies and their roles in the appearance of pathology are discussed.