Changes of Blood Mg 2+ and K⁺ after Starvation during Molting in Laying Hens

Either the fasting during natural molting or the starvation in induced molting would be a severe metabolic stress to laying hens. The metabolic stress during starvation and subsequent refeeding syndrome could lead to unbalance of mineral homeostasis, including Mg 2+ , K? and P required by ATP synthesis. Since Mg 2+ is a fundamental ion for normal metabolic processes and stress may not only increase in demands of Mg 2+ but also produce consequence of Mg 2+ deficiency, we investigated the changes of blood ionized and total ions related to starvation during molting in laying hens. We founded the significant decrease in blood Mg 2+ and K? accompanied by the changes of biochemical parameters relating to increased metabolic stress after molting. These results suggested that appropriate Mg 2+ and K? supplements to laying hens could have beneficial effects during molting and subsequent refeeding that could produce a severe hypomagnesemia and hypokalcemia.