Effects of feeding high magnesium to young dairy calves

Holstein bull calves were fed 1, 2, and 4% supplemental magnesium as magnesium oxide. The control diet contained .3% magnesium and consisted of ground corn, soybean meal, cottonseed hulls plus mineral, vitamin, and antibiotic supplements. Diarrhea was the most obvious effect of high intake of magnesium. The extent and intensity of the diarrhea was related closely to the dietary magnesium content. High (2 and 4%) magnesium reduced feed consumption and weight gains. Although there were traces of blood in feces, no abnormalities were observed at autopsy. Large tubular sections of mucus were voided in the feces with a greater prevalance among calves fed 2 and 4% supplemental magnesium. Magnesium in plasma rose sharply in response to the increased intake of magnesium. In calves receiving the 4% added magnesium, the plasma values were triple those of controls. When high magnesium was fed, magnesium increased much more in urine than in plasma. Within 1 wk after calves were returned to control diet, magnesium in urine and plasma declined to control.