Minerals and electrolytes profile in lactating and pregnant indian camels

The study was carried out to generate first hand information about normal plasma concentration of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, ionised calcium, total calcium, magnesium and chlorides in Indian she camels in early lactating, late lactating and pregnant stage. Mean values of plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, ionised calcium, total calcium, magnesium and chlorides in pregnant camels were 158.58 mEqL⁻¹, 4.31 mEqL⁻¹, 4.75 mg/dl, 5.15 mg/dl, 10.04 mg/dl, 2.09 mg/dl and 119.18 mEqL⁻¹, respectively. While mean values of plasma levels of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, ionised calcium, total calcium, magnesium and chlorides in lactating camels in early lactation were 160.74 mEqL⁻¹, 4.45 mEqL⁻¹, 3.91 mg/dl, 5.25 mg/dl, 10.24 mg/dl, 1.90 mg/dl and 119.18 mEqL⁻¹, respectively. Range of plasma levels of ionised calcium and total calcium was narrow but there was significant difference among early lactating, late lactation and pregnant she camels; higher level of plasma calcium was found in early lactation than the pregnant and late lactation stages. However, no significant difference was observed in values of magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium among 3 physiological stages. Plasma chloride levels in camels in late lactation stage was significantly lower than the camels in early lactation and pregnant camels.