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Recent studies of bone appetite in cattle
J R Blair-West1, D A Denton, J F Nelson
1Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Cows with severe phosphorus deficiency developed a strong appetite for aging bones, driven by olfactory cues. This bone-seeking behavior is regulated by blood phosphate levels, not cerebrospinal fluid.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Nutritional science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Phosphorus deficiency in cattle can lead to unusual behaviors.
- The specific mechanisms and attractants driving bone-seeking behavior in phosphorus-depleted animals are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of the attractant in bones for phosphorus-deficient cows.
- To determine the physiological regulation of this bone-seeking behavior.
Main Methods:
- Inducing phosphorus deficiency in cows via parotid fistula and low-phosphate diet.
- Presenting various substances (bones, meat, salts, excreta) to assess attractiveness.
- Fractionating bone marrow extracts and testing their attractiveness.
- Measuring plasma and cerebrospinal fluid phosphate levels in response to the behavior.
Main Results:
- Phosphorus-depleted cows exhibited a strong appetite for aging bones, with attractiveness increasing with age.
- The attractant was identified as an organic constituent in bone marrow, particularly in aged bone.
- Bone-seeking behavior was abolished by elevated plasma phosphate levels, suggesting blood phosphate regulates the appetite.
- No interest was shown in inorganic phosphate or calcium salts, or ashed bone.
Conclusions:
- The bone appetite in phosphorus-deficient cows is an innate, olfaction-driven behavior.
- An organic component of aging bone marrow acts as the primary attractant.
- Plasma phosphate concentration is the key regulator of this specific appetite.