Comparison of the serum minerals that promote bone healing in healthy and clinically sick goats in Bangladesh

Serum minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium are essential for the skeletal system during bone formation and remodeling as well as fracture repair. Present study was intended to assess the serum biochemical parameters of three of the most important macro minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium), which are key minerals for bone healing or development in healthy and clinical sick goats. Serum samples were collected from a total of 200 goats (healthy=102, clinically sick=98) from a veterinary hospital and three farms of Chattogram, Bangladesh. The overall mean serum calcium level of healthy goats was 8.47±0.11 mg/dl and in sick goats it was 7.63±0.12 mg/dl, and the value was much lower than the reference value in sick goats. The serum phosphorus and magnesium levels did not vary between the two groups and were within (phosphorus) or close to (magnesium) the range of reference values. In healthy goats, their serum calcium level varied significantly considering age, body weight, sex, feeding type, and owner's income. However, the serum phosphorus and magnesium levels did not vary significantly across the different parameters tested, except for sex and owner's income in the case of phosphorus. Three sick goats had hypocalcemia, which means that their calcium and magnesium levels were lower than the standard values of 5.9±0.5 and 1.9±0.2 mg/dl, respectively. However, their phosphorus levels were normal across all groups of sick goats. In conclusion, the value of an important mineral for bone healing is lower in both sick and healthy goats, which is a frightening sign for bone problems. Most goats have low levels of calcium and magnesium but average levels of phosphorous. Based on these findings, sufficient calcium and magnesium can be added to feed and given orally to further prevent bone fracture.