ANOTHER Calcium Carbonate question

I find this an interesting thread because a few years ago I was reading in here that it was wise to give 3:1 during late weeks of pregnancy, i.e. that is 3 cups of alfalfa pellets to 1 cup of regular goat grain.

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From what I understand, they should be able to get all they need from a REGULAR un-supplemented diet during the dry period. As I've learned, it is supposedly REALLY hard to feed a calcium deficient diet to dry animals. This means a normal diet without abnormally high amounts of top dressed calcium carbonate and without a ton of alfalfa should be just fine to supply their needs during the dry period. If properly fed calcium when lactating, they are getting enough to maintain adequate bone density of calcium through lactation as well. I bet most animals (fed a GOOD diet) are doing just fine with calcium bone density through the majority of the lactation and don't need to 'rebuild' during the dry period - or if they do, the 2 month dry period with normal calcium intake is adequate. Calcium homeostasis never STOPS working, except when hypocalcemia occurs during rapid onset of milk production, and even then it's just working improperly - trying to STORE when it should be RELEASING. It's constantly being replenished through a good lactation diet and calcium homeostasis.

Some of that is supposition, I admit. I'm at work, but I'll see what I can dig up, now I'm curious how much the bone supply of calcium is affected in animals fed what is considered 'adequate' calcium through lactation. Maybe I can bother one of my Profs here at MSU.

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Dona Barski

"Breed the best, eat the rest"

Caprice Acres

French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.