The effects of cobalt and copper treatment on the weight gains and blood constituents of cattle in Kenya

Da, Howard

doi:10.1136/vr.87.25.771

Cited by 19 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…It has, for example, been implicated in a wasting disease of cattle Bos taurus , known locally as ‘Nakuruitis’ because it occurred in an area of volcanic soil near Nakuru National Park, Kenya. Russell & Duncan (1956) reported that: ‘Affected cattle show a craving for local edible earths, and the native custom of giving cattle access to such licks helps to keep down the incidence of the disease.’Howard (1970) showed that Co‐supplements greatly increased weight gain in cattle in the Great Rift in Kenya. Unsupplemented cattle remained listless and emaciated with poor coats, whereas Co supplemented animals were well filled‐out with normal coats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geophagy and nutrient supplementation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, with particular reference to selenium, cobalt and molybdenum

Mills

Milewski

2006

Journal of Zoology

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Wildlife and livestock in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania, commonly practise geophagy. We investigated the nutrient content of nine earth licks and adjacent topsoils in the NCA, and for comparative purposes, two salt pans in north-eastern Tanzania, licks in central Tanzania and a lick near Puerto Maldonado, Peru. The licks had no consistent pattern of nutrient enrichment relative to unutilized topsoils, although the Na content of licks was greater than that of the adjacent topsoils at all but one site. The three largest licks in the NCA (Gibbs Farm, Seneto and Ascent Road) were enriched relative to topsoils and global averages in Se (maximum of 4.7 mg kg À1 ), Co (maximum of 107 mg kg À1 ) and/or Mo (maximum of 7.4 mg kg À1 ). We suggest that licks do provide supplemental Na, but that Se, Co and/or Mo at the largest licks provide easily overlooked nutritional benefits and are perhaps the primary target for geophagy at these sites. Subsoil zones of clay deposition are likely to be enriched in various elements through illuviation or mineral precipitation from solution. Animals may use the taste of NaCl as a clue for locating such zones where they are likely to find a greater quantity of micronutrients relative to other soils. These findings have consequences for conservation and pastoralism in that these large licks may be key resources, providing micronutrients that are essential for maintaining the health and fecundity of animal as well as human populations in the region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geophagy and nutrient supplementation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, with particular reference to selenium, cobalt and molybdenum

Mills

Milewski

2006

Journal of Zoology

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“…Copper uptake in wheat was found to decrease with increasing pH in several Kenyan soils (Nyandat & Ochieng 1976). An increase in the trace element content of plants in the wet season has been observed for pastures in the Kenya highlands (Howard et al 1962), for grass species adjacent to Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley (Maskall 1991) and for several grass and browse species in Mole National Park" in Ghana (Bowell & Ansah 1993). Trace element concentrations in tropical pastures can fall as the plant matures (Gomide et al 1969) and during periods of rapid growth (Fleming 1973).…”

Section: Soil-plant Uptake Of Trace Elementsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Thus the enclosure of wildlife within relatively small national parks may restrict their opportunity through migration to acquire adequate major and trace elements. Soils in the area of the Kenyan Rift Valley around Nakuru have long been associated with mineral problems including copper deficiency in wheat (Pinkerton 1967) and copper and cobalt deficiencies in cattle (Hudson 1944;Howard 1970). Lake Nakuru National Park has been Maskall & Thornton (1991).…”

Section: Implications For Wildlife Nutritionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The distribution of trace and major elements in Kenyan soil profiles and implications for wildlife nutrition

Maskall¹,

Thornton²

1996

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Concentrations of trace and major elements are examined in several soil profiles from national parks and wildlife reserves in Kenya. Broad variations in soil trace element concentrations between locations are largely attributable to differences in parent material and variations in soil pH are related to sodium and calcium concentrations. However, element concentrations and distributions are also influenced by soil forming processes. The process of sodication in alkaline solonetz soils in Lake Nakuru National Park appears to have lowered the concentrations of copper, cobalt and nickel in the surface horizon. At Amboseli National Park, a marked accumulation of molybdenum, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the surface horizon of an alkaline solonchak is probably due to salinization processes. Apparent mobilization of copper, cobalt and nickel down the profile of a humic nitisol in the Aberdares Salient is associated with eluviation and leaching processes. In two andosols and an ando-humic nitisol, copper, cobalt and nickel tend to accumulate in the surface horizon in association with organic matter. In vertisols from Amboseli National Park and Lewa Downs Wildlife Reserve, the relatively constant trace element concentrations in the A and B horizons are linked to the self-swallowing processes that characterize this soil type. The elevated pH in the solonetz and solonchak soils at Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National Parks results in enhanced uptake of molybdenum in the grass species Sporobulus spicatus . At Lake Nakuru National Park, high molybdenum concentrations in this and other plant species are associated with low copper status of impala. The implications of soil geochemistry for the trace element nutrition of wild animals in small conservation areas are discussed.

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“…In the area of the Kenya Rift Valley around the city of Nakuru (east of Lake Victoria), mineral problems in soils have led to copper deficiency in wheat (Pinkerton, 1967) and copper and cobalt deficiencies in cattle (Hudson, 1944;Howard, 1970). At Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, the elevated pH of soils has been linked with the high molybdenum content of several plant species (Maskall and Thornton, 1992).…”

Section: Trace Elements In Soils and Plants -Implications For Wildlifmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Geology

2010

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The book series is dedicated to the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth. The aim of the Year is to raise worldwide public and political awareness of the vast (but often under-used) potential of Earth sciences for improving the quality of life and safeguarding the planet. Geoscientific knowledge can save lives and protect property if threatened by natural disasters. Such knowledge is also needed to sustainably satisfy the growing need for Earth's resources by more people. Earths scientists are ready to contribute to a safer, healthier and more prosperous society. IYPE aims to develop a new generation of such experts to find new resources and to develop land more sustainably.

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The effects of cobalt and copper treatment on the weight gains and blood constituents of cattle in Kenya

Cited by 19 publications

References 0 publications

Geophagy and nutrient supplementation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, with particular reference to selenium, cobalt and molybdenum

Geophagy and nutrient supplementation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, with particular reference to selenium, cobalt and molybdenum

The distribution of trace and major elements in Kenyan soil profiles and implications for wildlife nutrition

Medical Geology

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