Magnesium Deficiency in the Laying Hen

LITERATURE REVIEW KRUSE et al. (1932) were the first to demonstrate conclusively that magnesium (Mg) was an essential nutrient for the growth and livelihood of animals. Since that time Almquist (1942) and Gardiner et al. (1960) have shown that the chick requires 260 to 400 p.p.m. Mg for optimum growth. Tufts and Greenberg (1937) observed that a high level of dietary calcium (Ca) increased the severity of Mg deficiency and raised the level of dietary Mg necessary to meet the minimal Mg requirement of the rat. Bunce et al. (1962) found that both the elevation of dietary Ca and phosphorus (P) increased the severity of the Mg deficiency syndrome of the weanling dog with the P effect being more pronounced. Morris and O’Dell (1963) also found that excess levels of both Ca and P increased the Mg requirement of the guinea pig and that their effects were roughly additive. Nugara …