An assessment of the mineral status of goats under smallholder management.

Abstract

Blood samples were collected from 40 goats, kept under smallholder grazing conditions on natural veld at Sanyati to ascertain their calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, zinc, copper and cobalt status. The goats were deficient in phophorus throughout the year, marginally deficient in magnesium and copper in the dry season while calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, and selenium concentrations were all above critical levels. the levels of phosphorus, magnesium and copper were higher (P<0.01) in the rainy season than in the dry season while calcium, selenium and cobalt were higher (P<0.01) in the dry season. the plasma levels of iron and copper was higher in kids (P<0.05). Strategic supplementation of phosphorus, magnesium and copper is therefore recommended for goats in the Sanyati smallholder farming areas.


Transactions of the Zimbabwe Scientific AssociationVolume 72 1998, pp. 11-13