Blood, plasma, and serum inorganic and organic reference values for two-year old Irish Thoroughbreds during the racing season

The concentration of 13 inorganic and organic components in the blood, plasma, and serum of 51 two-year old Irish Thoroughbreds were measured on seven occasions over a ten-month period including the racing season. Reference values were established for calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, glucose, and alkaline phosphatase. The components measured were those usually considered to be useful aids in clinical diagnosis. No significant differences were established between the best and worst eight track performers with the exception of inorganic phosphorus which in the best eight was significantly lower (P<0.01).