IRON, MANGANESE, COPPER, ZINC AND SELENIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN ALBERTA GRAINS AND ROUGHAGES

Abstract

Samples of barley, oat and wheat grain, barley, oat, barley–oat, grass, legume and grass–legume roughage grown throughout Alberta were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn concentrations. In addition, the barley grain and grass–legume roughage samples were analyzed for Se concentrations. The various element concentrations were compared with Agricultural Research Council and National Academy of Sciences–National Research Council minimum requirements for cattle. The geographic distribution of these concentrations within Alberta was also examined. The mean Fe concentrations for all feeds were well above the suggested minimum requirement of 30 ppm. On the other hand, the mean Zn concentrations for all feeds were below the suggested minimum requirement of 50 ppm. Mean Mn concentrations of barley grain, barley roughage and legume roughage were less than the suggested minimum requirement of 40 ppm. Wheat grain was the only feed showing a mean Cu concentration of less than the suggested minimum requirement of 10 ppm. Mean Se concentrations of barley grain and grass–legume roughage were above the suggested minimum requirement of 100 ppb. With the exception of Se in barley grain there were no geographic differences in elements evident within Alberta. Selenium in barley grain showed highest concentrations in the south and southeast of the Province with greater occurrence of low concentrations towards the west, north and northwest.