Plasma zinc concentrations in beef cows at Salado River Basin
Zinc (Zn) is an essential micromineral and its deficiency can affect the productive and reproductive efficiency in cattle. A multicenter observational study was carried out to evaluate Zn status in breeding cows at Salado River Basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina). The study included 110 cow-calf operations, in which blood samples (n = 1078 cows) were collected and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Cows were classified according to their plasma Zn concentration values as physiologically adequate (≥ 90 μg/dl), marginal (between 80 to 89 μg/dl) and deficient (<80 μg/dl). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the SAS program MEANS procedure. The average plasma Zn concentration was 102.8 ± 16.4 μg/dl and 31.4 % of the cows in each herd showed marginal or deficient values. The highest percentage of marginal or deficient cows was recorded in winter (47.7 %), while the lowest percentage was recorded in autumn (21.3 %). These results show that there is Zn deficiency in cow-calf operations of Salado River Basin.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata
2021
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unlp.edu.ar/analecta/article/view/11980 |
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