[The mineral content of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the serum and bones and the serum activity of alkaline phosphatase in slaughtered fattening pigs].

The mineral content of serum and bones in 311 fattening pigs kept in a large scale farming operation was analyzed. Serum and metacarpal (III and IV) bone samples were obtained during slaughtering. The mean values of serum parameters as determined by automated dry-chemistry (Kodak Ektachem) were: Ca 2.80 +/- 0.20 mmol/l, P 3.08 +/- 0.67 mmol/l, Mg 1.21 +/- 0.24 mmol/l and Alkaline Phosphatase 211.25 +/- 56.91 U/l. Ash in bones was on average 62.85 +/- 2.07%. Ca- und Mg-contents of bones were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the percentage found for Ca was 31.87 +/- 2.68%, and for Mg 0.64 +/- 0.05%. P in bones was determined spectrophotometrically by the vanadate-molybdate method and was 17.48 +/- 0.97%. The Ca/P-ratio in serum was 0.94 +/- 0.16, in bones 1.83 +/- 0.19, Ca/Mg in serum 2.37 +/- 0.31 and in bones 50.05 +/- 5.00. The parameters tested (Ca, P, Mg, AP) and the Ca/P- and Ca/Mg-ratios of minerals in serum and bones did not differ between sexes. Between all serum parameters positive correlations were found as well as between Ca and Mg in bones. Ca, P and Mg in bones were negatively correlated to Ca, P and Mg in serum, respectively. All results of the parameters examined were within the normal range for healthy fattening pigs, with the only exception that Ca-values in bones were lower than normal. A new method for preparing the bone samples for the analyses of minerals was established and can be recommended for further investigations.