ASSESSMENT OF MACRO-MINERALS STATUS IN SOIL, WATER, FEED RESOURCES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON BLOOD PLASMA OF SHEEP AND GOATS IN CENTRAL MIX CROPPING ZONE OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of season, soil, water and feedstuffs on macro-mineral status of blood plasma of sheep and goats in the central mix cropping zone of Punjab, Pakistan. Five sub-locations were selected randomly from the study area. From each sub-location, blood samples were collected from adult sheep and goats as well as from kids and lambs, both in winter and summer season. Lower sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels were found in soil and feedstuffs of the area. However, in different sources of water, Na values were nearly within the range but K was slightly higher. This was followed by lower plasma Na concentration both in sheep (114.23 + 10.21 mEq / L) and goats (121.78 + 12.35 mEq / L). However, concentration of K was within the critical limit in sheep (4.05 + 0.40 mEq / L) and goats (5.10 + 12.4 mEq / L). Plasma Na and K in both species showed effects of season, animal class and interaction of season and animal class (P≤0.05). Lower calcium (Ca) concentrations were found in soil, feedstuffs and water. A similar trend was observed in plasma Ca concentration of sheep (3.2 + 0.98 mg / 100ml) and goats (3.4 + 1.26 mg / 100ml) during winter. In contrast, phosphorous (P) was marginally deficient in soil, water and feedstuffs as well as in blood plasma of sheep (3.12 + 2.25 mg / 100ml) and goat (3.60 + 2.25 mg / 100ml) during winter and summer. The levels of Ca and P were marginally deficient in summer season in adult animals. Soil magnesium (Mg) values were slightly higher, whereas, water and feedstuffs were deficient. Blood plasma concentration of Mg was higher many fold both in sheep (5.25 + 1.85 mg / 100ml) and goats (4.76 + 1.23 mg / 100ml). However, plasma Mg was affected by season and animal class (P≤0.05).The data were all analyzed using one way ANOVA test and significant differences between means were tested using Duncan’s multiple range test. From these blood analyses, we concluded that macro-mineral levels were significantly different (P≤0.05) in blood plasma of sheep and goats on this ranch of Punjab and that animals need supplementation with implication of similar needs for other regions of Pakistan