IONIZED CALCIUM IN CALF SERUM - RELATION TO TOTAL SERUM-CALCIUM, ALBUMIN, TOTAL PROTEIN AND PH

Serum ionized calcium, total calcium, albumin, total protein and pH we re determined in 340 female Italian Friesian calves, aged from 1 day t o 6 months. Analyses of data from calves divided into 7 age groups sho wed only occasional correlations between Ca++ and the other parameters . For pooled values for the calves aged 1-6 months, there were signifi cant positive correlations between ionized and total calcium and betwe en total calcium and albumin, and a negative correlation between ioniz ed calcium and serum pH. However, the correlation coefficients were to o low to be usable for prediction of the levels of ionized calcium fro m the levels of total calcium or from the other parameters. When it is essential to evaluate the calcium status of a calf, direct measuremen t of ionized calcium must be done.