S. N

Minerals (Macro elements)

Deficiency symptoms

1.

Calcium

Rickets; a deformity where the bone formation cannot occur

Osteomalacia; condition in which bones becomes weak, porous and soft.

Osteoporosis; characterized by decreased bone mass, in cattle.

Milk fever in cattle

Laying hens; improper development of eggshell, soft bones and beak, curved legs and low egg production.

2.

Phosphorus

Rickets, Osteomalacia, pica, stiff joints, muscular weakness, low fertility, low milk yield in cows and stunted growth in young animals. Subnormal growth in young animals and low live weight gains in mature animals are characteristic symptoms of phosphorus deficiency.

3.

Magnesium

Deficiency in adult ruminants causes hypomagneseamic tetany associated with low blood levels of magnesium. It is also called grass tetany characterized by convulsions, hyperirritability, twitching of the facial muscles, staggering gait and ultimately tetany. In poultry, magnesium deficiency causes neurological symptoms.

4.

Sodium

Deficiency results in growth failure and reduces the utilization of digested protein and energy, dehydration, decreased plasma fluid and body fluid volume, decreased cardiac output, decreased arterial pressure, increased hematocrit, corneal laceration, nervous disorder. In hens, egg production is adversely affected as well as growth. Reproductive disturbances in rats. NaCl deficiency is characterized by intense craving for salt, a lack of appetite, generally haggard appearance, lustreless eyes and a rough hair coat. In milking cows, there is rapid loss of weight and decline in milk production. In high producing cows, collapse may be sudden and death may occur.

5.

Potassium

In poultry, deficiency causes retarded growth, weakness, tetany and loss of production. Dogs suffer from paralytic symptoms. Other symptoms include cardiac weakness, weak extremities, weakness of respiratory muscle, poor intestinal tone with poor intestinal distension.

6.

Sulphur

Deficiency of this mineral in body is not usually considered, since intake is mainly in form of protein and deficiency of sulphur indicate protein deficiency.