A comparative study on mineral status of blood plasma

This paper reports the concentrations of some essential minerals (Mg, Cu and Zn) in soil, forage and blood plasma of grazing goats and sheep in two pastures (managed and unmanaged) in the south-western Punjab, Pakistan during two consecutive seasons of the year. The main aim was to evaluate and compare the mineral status of grazing ruminants on two different areas of the same farm in relation to seasonal variation. Mean mineral element concentrations in soil and forages in the managed pasture area tended to exceed levels over the unmanaged pasture area for almost all three investigated elements. Soil Mg and Cu concentrations were within the optimum range for active plant growth, but the levels of available Zn were below the critical limit. At both managed and unmanaged pastures, the effect of the season on both soil and forage mineral element concentrations were significant. The Zn concentrations in both summer and winter seasons in the managed pasture and Cu in the winter season were below the ruminants requirements, but Mg concentrations were above or within the recommended range. The plasma mineral profile of all animals fluctuated in relation to season and pasture. It was concluded that the mineral nutrition of the livestock at this region is almost adequate but at the marginal deficient level. This concentration may change abruptl