Sources and Levels of Trace Elements Influence Some Blood Parameters in Murrah Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves

Abstract

Sources of supplemental minerals in the diet of animals are of important significance. Bio-availability of organic sources is believed to be more in the body as compared to regularly used inorganic sources and hence environment-friendly due to reduced mineral excretion, which in turn reduces their requirements in the diet as well. Twenty-four male Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves (about 18-20 months of age and 318.54 ± 8.85 kg body weight) were divided randomly into four groups of six animals each. In the control group (C, InOrg100) zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were supplemented through an inorganic source, while in treatment groups, organic source at the rate of 50, 75, or 100% (in groups T1 (Org50), T2 (Org75), and T3 (Org100), respectively) was fed at level as supplemented in the control group. Feeding was continued for a period of 180 days with blood sampling at day 0 followed by a regular interval of 45 days. Plasma samples were analyzed for trace elements Cu, Mn, Zn, and iron (Fe), total antioxidant status, ceruloplasmin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with cell-mediated and humoral immune response. Plasma levels of different trace minerals like Fe, Mn, and Cu remained unaffected with two sources and different levels of organic minerals, except the level of Zn, which showed higher (P < 0.05) levels in the group Org100 compared to others, and remained indicative of higher bio-availability through the organic source. The concentration of plasma total antioxidants indicated no adverse effect on the reduction of supplemental levels up to half of these minerals. Also, the level of plasma SOD was high (P < 0.05) at each level of the organic source as compared to the 100% level of the inorganic source. Immune response in respect of cell-mediated as well as humoral immunity did not show any reduction in different groups. The study indicated beneficial impacts of the organic source in the form of superior plasma Zn level as well as SOD concentrations. In addition, no negative effect on most of the studied parameters was observed after reducing supplemental trace minerals to half indicating higher bio-availability of organic trace minerals.

Impact of Nutrients on the Hoof Health in Cattle

“…Mineral and vitamin supplementation is associated with a reduction in the incidence of lameness in dairy cows. Improper mineral nutrition can also be a prerequisite for lameness [ 26 , 71 , 112 ], being mainly caused by a lack of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, iodine, or sulphur amino acids [ 83 ]. Minerals play a considerable role in determining the structural strength of hooves due to their involvement in specific biochemical pathways that are associated with keratin synthesis [ 1 , 74 ].…”

“…Insufficient amounts of zinc, copper, and manganese promoted oxidative stress, increased incidence of cartilage disorders, and poor horn quality [ 27 ]. Copper bound in an organic amino acid complex is more bioavailable than inorganic sulphate sources [ 103 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 118 , 121 ], thereby improving the production of keratinized tissue [ 113 , 117 ], demonstrating a lower incidence of hoof disease in dairy cows fed organic forms of trace elements [ 113 ] and a reduction in the prevalence of lameness [ 27 ].…”

Effects of different manganese sources on nutrient digestibility, fecal bacterial community, and mineral excretion of weaning dairy calves

“…Mn has functions in skeletal system development, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and the innate immune response (Santamaria, 2008 ; Haase, 2018 ). Organic sources (glycine amino acid-chelated zinc, manganese, and copper) presented higher bioavailability compared with inorganic sources (zinc sulfate monohydrate, manganese sulfate monohydrate, and copper sulfate pentahydrate) in Murrah buffalo (Mudgal et al, 2019 ). In addition, previous studies have reported the application of Mn in sheep, poultry, and swine production.…”

Comparing Trace Element Concentrations in Serum and Claw Tissue Samples of Buffaloes and Brown Swiss Cattle

“…Furthermore, it was observed that hoof capsule and sole horn Mn levels were quite similar in the cattle group. Mudgal et al(33) reported that plasma Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn levels in 18-20 months old male Anatolian buffaloes were 3.78, 0.85, 0.77, and 2.42 ppm, respectively.In healthy female buffaloes, serum Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations were 3.2, 0.059, 0.53, and 3.24 µmol/L, respectively(34). Sun et al (11) evaluated the serum TE levels in cattle with different lameness scores and showed that the lowest serum Cr levels in cattle with the lowest lameness score (approximately 0.5 µg/g) and serum Cr level was the highest (approximately 4 µg/g) in cattle with the highest lameness score.…”