Three-year study on trace mineral concentration in the blood plasma of shetland pony mares

Abstract

1. 1. Changes in some trace minerals concentrations (calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, sodium and potassium) in blood plasma were investigated during a three-year period in Shetland pony mares. 2. 2. Blood plasma mineral concentrations were determined by the atomic absorption method and colorimetric method. 3. 3. The three-year averages were in μg/ml; Na 4630 ± 168; K 277 ± 3.8; Ca 171 ± 3.8; P 31.5 ± 0.74; Fe 1.92 ± 0.14; Zn 1.07 ± 0.04 and Cu 1.06 ± 0.02. 4. 4. Two trace minerals (magnesium in inorganic phosphorus) showed only long-term tendency changes—upward or downward trends were not connected with the season. Most of the investigated minerals showed both a long-term change tendency and more or less marked seasonally related concentration changes, being higher during autumn or winter (zinc, sodium), or during spring and summer (calcium, copper, iron and potassium). 5. 5. Some interrelationships between particular trace mineral concentrations in blood plasma were also observed.