Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Vet Practitioner
2
associate professor
3
Clinical sciences, Vet. College, Urmia University
Abstract
Monitoring levels of serum mineral concentrations in cows is important for assessing the effect of contamination on animal health and safety of animal origin products in human nutrition. Thus the concentrations of the serum macro and micro minerals and their interrelationships in 200 Holstein dairy cows including 20 dairy herds were evaluated in Urmia, Iran. Sera were measured to determine the manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), chloride, sodium and potassium concentrations by atomic absorption, auto analyzer and flame photometer machines using appropriate commercial kits. Mean Mn, Mo, Fe and Cu were 15.45, 0.59 ng/ml, 65.6, 40.2 µg/dl and Ca, P, Mg, sodium, potassium and chloride were 1.91, 1.25, 1.22, 134.2, 3.57, 82.4 mmol/l, respectively. Mean concentration of the minerals among the herds, except for sodium, were significantly different (P<0.01). There were significant relationships between Mn/Mo, Mn/Cu, Mn/Ca, Mo/Fe, Mo/Cu, Mo/Ca and Mo/Mg, of which Mo demonstrated the greatest and strongest correlations with the other minerals. The relationships among trace elements and macro-minerals were mostly negative, while Mn and Mo were positive. In conclusion, serum Mn concentration in Urmia dairy cows is likely low but Mo, Cu and Fe are approximately normal. Herd variations in the serum minerals of dairy herds were clear. The presence of negative correlations among minerals indicates their competition effect with each other, while Mn and Mo support each other. Thus, simultaneous studies of elements will improve the production and reproduction performance by supplying Mn or other mineral supplementation according to their competition or supporting characteristics in dairy food with emphasis on Mn, Ca and phosphorus.
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