Metabolic and cellular profile testing in calves under feedlot conditions: minerals, electrolytes and biochemical components--changes over time in feedlot.

The concentration of 19 mineral, electrolyte, and biochemical components in blood serum of 114 calves under feedlot conditions were measured or calculated over a 58-day period (2 days before and 56 days during a feed trail). The purpose was to evaluate the variability in the concentration of these components over time. The blood was collected on 7 sampling dates and analyzed on the day following sampling. Generally, the serum concentrations of the components that were measured varied considerably over the first 3 weeks of the feeding period and then had a tendency to level off during the 2nd part of that period.