The availability of calcium in three legumes of grassland

Abstract

1. The availability of the calcium in three grassland species, all legumes, has been investigated, with the rat as experimental animal.2. Two procedures involving determination of the calcium balance, (a) by analysis of feed, faeces and urine, and (b) by a slaughter technique, were used.3. The foregoing methods gave results, for any one species, which were without significant difference. It is considered that the slaughter technique would be the less laborious when any large number of determinations has to be made.4. The calcium in both lucerne and late-flowering red clover was available to a significantly greater degree than that in wild white clover. In all three species calcium availability was high.5. The possible significance of the high faecal calcium found in rats receiving wild white clover has been discussed.6. It was concluded that the extension of availability studies to a wider range of grassland species and of their ash-components would be desirable.