Abstract
Mineral imbalance in water and forages inhibit livestock production in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. This study aimed to determine trace element concentrations in blood serum of healthy and unthrifty calves and their relation with the surrounding environment including the trace element content in the soil, in addition to food and water allowed to these animals. A total of 20 yearling ill-thrift crossbred calves (group A) were chosen from El-thawra village (area A), where unthrifty calves occur. A similar number of healthy crossbred calves were chosen from El-Sabat area (area B) as a control group (group B). Results revealed that the area A soils have higher Fe and Mn (P < 0.001) and lower Cu and Zn (P < 0.003 and 0.004, respectively) than the area B. The area A forages have higher Fe and Mn (P < 0.001) and lower Cu and Zn (P < 0.2 and <0.001, respectively) than the area B. Both areas have higher Fe and Mn and lower Cu and Zn in water than the recommended levels. Values of serum Fe or Mn for both groups were within the published reference ranges. However, 10% and 55% of calves had lower Cu, and 15% and 60% had lower Zn in the groups B and A, respectively, than the reference ranges. On the other hand, blood serum of group B had significantly lower Cu (P < 0.001) and Zn (P < 0.001) than that of group A. It can be concluded that soil, forages and water in some localities in El-Kharga oasis are deficient in Cu and Zn and contain high concentrations of Fe and Mn. These mineral disturbances may directly affect the health of calves reared in these areas.
Highlights
Mineral imbalance in water, soil and forages inhibit livestock production in tropical and subtropical parts of the world
This study aimed to determine trace element concentrations in blood serum of healthy and unthrifty calves and their relation with the surrounding environment including the trace element content in the soil, in addition to food and water allowed to these animals
Extractable mineral concentrations of soils: The mean values of Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn concentrations in the area A, B soils are illustrated in table 1
Summary
Soil and forages inhibit livestock production in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. One of the greatest challenges in pasture management is meeting the nutrient requirements of the ruminant due to variable forage quality. Previous research has shown that location and soil parent material were significant factors contributing to mineral uptake by forages (Suttle, 2010). Relations between the geochemical nature of soils and their parent materials and the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies and excesses in grazing livestock have been documented since the 1960s and earlier (Miller and Stake, 1974). The scientists have more advanced tools to facilitate the understanding of processes in the soil–plant–animal ecosystem that influence and control the supply of essential nutrient elements (Thornton, 2002)
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