Mineral contents of extracellular fluids in camel and cattle in the North East Sahel region of Nigeria

Abstract

The levels of some mineral elements in serum, urine, ruminal fluid and digesta of camels and cattle of the North East Sahel region of Nigeria were evaluated using apparently healthy animals presented for slaughter at the Maiduguri municipal abattoir during the months of November and December, 1993. Serum, urine, and rumen samples were obtained from the animals and analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and copper. The results showed that the concentrations of all the minerals studied, except sodium, were higher in the ruminal fluid of camels compared to cattle. However, serum concentrations were comparable in both species, with the exception of phosphorus which was lower in cattle, and potassium which was higher in cattle. For urine samples, all the minerals measured were higher in camel than in cattle. Analysis of solid rumen digesta showed that the concentrations of phosphorus, magnesium, copper and calcium, sodium, potassium were respectively higher in camels than cattle digesta.


Key Words: Cattle, Camel, Minerals, Sahel Region


(Nigerian Veterinary Journal: 2003 24(1): 13-20)