CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS PROFILE OF BLOOD PLASMA AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY CALCIUM AND AGE IN JAPANESE QUAILS

In Japanese quail layers plasma calcium profile was influenced by dietary calcium levels and their• was a positive correlation between dietary and plasma calcium levels. As age advanced especially at 24`h week of age, prelaying dietary calcium had only negligible influence on plasma calcium content when adequate levels of dietary calcium was maintained in the layer ration.nThe plasma calcium content in laying quails was high ranging from 21.131 ± 0.191 mg/dl to 30.500 ± 0.235 mg/dl. Plasma inorganic phosphate concentration was negatively correlated to dietary calcium level at the sixth, 16`h and 24`'' week of age. Birds fed on the highest dietary calcium level (3.5%)had the lowest plasma inorganic phosphate content. Plasma inorganic phosphorus contentbvaried from 10.224 ± 0.210 to 12.172 ± 0.192 mg/dl in laying quails. Age had no influence on the plasma profile of both calcium and inorganic phosphate