The dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) effect on the macromineral (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) balance, urinary and faecal pH, serum concentration of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium was studied in 16 Santa Inês adult sheep, during 26 days, being a seven-day-period of adaptation. The experiment consisted in a completely randomized block design with four treatments. Calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate were added to DCAB manipulations to achieve the values: -12; + 30; +76 and +133mEq/kg DM. There was no effect of DCAB (P>0.10) on fecal and urinary pH, and on phosphorus and magnesium balance. The increase in the DCAB corresponded to a decrease in calcium absorption and calcium retention, and an increase in calcium fecal excretion values. The manipulation of the DCAB affected the macromineral metabolism, mainly the calcium metabolism.
DCAB; calcium; phosphorus; magnesium; pH
