Blood content of selenium and zinc of female alpacas and their offspring raised in the Andes.

Abstract

Minerals are important for animals in many biological functions, there is scarce information however about micromineral content in blood of South American camelids under their prevalent production system. This study aims to determine the content of selenium in whole blood and zinc in blood serum of grazing alpacas at three different physiological states in the Peruvian Andes. Fifteen female alpacas on native pastures of the Andes were included in this study. Blood samples were collected for measurement of selenium in whole blood and zinc in blood serum from female alpacas at pre-calving, ten days after calving, and late lactation, as well as their respective offspring. Selenium and zinc content of pastures consumed by alpacas also were determined. The content of Se and Zn of the diet selected by alpacas met the requirements for the physiological states they go through in comparison with literature references. The concentration of zinc in blood serum of female alpacas was higher ten days after calving (0.26 µg/ml), compared to pre-calving and late lactation. The same tendency was found in the case of their offspring at ten days after calving (0.23 µg/ml) higher than for late lactation. Unlike zinc, in the case of selenium, no differences were found between the physiological states studied for alpacas or their offspring. Apparently, the zinc serum concentration changes through productive cycle of alpacas but not the whole blood selenium concentration. Further investigation is needed to define alpaca adequacy of zinc and selenium in relation to blood content of both minerals.