Silicon in plasma of sheep

Plasma silicon (Si) concentrations were determined (i) in lambs at 49 days of age reared artificially in confinement (system A), or fed a postweaning diet, or suckled and reared conventionally (system B), (ii) in 2-year-old ewes reared under systems A and B, (iii) in lambs at 49, 70, and 100 days of age reared under system A, and (iv) in lambs (reared under system A) injected with a vitamin D3 preparation. The lambs reared under system A had a significantly lower (P less than 0.01) plasma Si concentration than did lambs reared under system B, but in ewes there was no significant difference (P greater than 0.05) between the 2 rearing systems. Plasma Si concentration of lambs increased (P less than 0.01) as the lambs aged. The vitamin D3 injection had no significant effect (P greater than 0.05) on the plasma Si value.