Status of minerals in the soils, water, forage, blood, milk, urine and faeces of free-ranging camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Northern kenya during the dry season

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Northern Kenya during two dry seasons to assess the concentrations of mineral elements essential for milk production. Samples of soil, water, forage, milk and blood were collected from June to September 2000 and analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Co. Mineral concentrations ranged as follows; Ca; 20.1 –193.0, 85.2- 170.0, 50.0 – 172.7, 22.0- 100.0, 116 - 139.0 and 1.37, P; 17.0 –123.0, 10.7- 33.1, 28.0 - 45.0, 13 – 44.4 and 88.6 – 90.1, Mg; 3.50 – 17.0, 8.0 – 22, 8.3 – 32.0, 3.0 – 15.3, 8.9 – 14.2 and 8.0 – 14.0, Co; 0.01 -0.0.62, 0.04 – 0.14, 0.38 – 0.08, 0.06 – 0.12 and 0.06 - 0.13, Cu; 0.054 –0.715, 0.03 – 17.0, 0.01 – 0.39, 0.10 - 0.23, 0.09 – 0.18, 0.07 – 0.15 and 0.05 – .14 for forage, blood, faeces, urine and milk respectively. Mineral concentrations in water, and soils are also presented. The water, soil, forage, blood, Milk, urine and faeces from the different herds had varying mineral composition (P<0.5). In blood and urine the locality did not affect the mineral concentrations statistical (P<0.05). The Blood and forage Ca and Mg levels are adequate while the levels of P, Co and Cu are below the recommended levels for ruminants. The minerals most likely to be less than required for camel production are P, Co, Cu and K (not measured). The camels seem to be suffering from the imbalance in Ca: P ratios and low Co and Cu in the forages. They may be trying to coop with the imbalance by excreting more Ca in faeces and urine, and concentrating the blood mineral levels. Camel trace mineral requirements may be low but severe deficiency was not observed.

Keywords: camel, minerals

International Journal of Agricultural and Rural Development Vol. 5 2004: 121-128