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Serum and liver copper, iron, molybdenum and zinc concentration in goats and sheep in the state of Paraíba, Brazil

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine Cu, Fe, Mo, and Zn liver and serum concentration in sheep and goats raised in the rangelands of the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil, during the dry and rainy seasons, and to establish if Cu deficiency is primary or secondary to high ingestion of Mo or Fe. Cu, Zn, Mo and Fe concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry coupled to mass (ICP-Plasma) in 253 liver and serum samples randomly selected in a slaughterhouse. The mean serum concentrations of Cu in the goats and sheep were 11.82±3.28μmol/L and 10.97±3.61μmol/L respectively. The liver Cu concentrations were 160.37±11.77mg/kg in goats and 152.12±13.16mg/kg in sheep. The mean serum Fe concentrations were 16.38±4.51μmol/L in goats and 25.41±9.76μmol/L in sheep. The mean Fe concentrations in the liver were 189.37±6.51mg/kg in goats and 313.70±12.89mg/kg in sheep. The mean serum concentrations of Mo were 0.14±0.04μmol/L in goats and 0.29±0.06μmol/L in sheep. The mean Mo concentrations in the liver were 6.09±0.23mg/kg in goats and 6.22±0.15mg/kg in sheep. The mean serum Zn concentrations were 8.30±1.91μmol/L in goats and 8.63±2.22μmol/L in sheep. The mean Zn concentrations in the liver were 132.80±3.39mg/kg in goats and 130.70±2.99mg/kg in sheep. These results show low or marginal serum and liver concentrations of Cu and Zn, indicating that these minerals should be supplemented. The normal or even low concentrations of Mo and the high concentration of Fe suggest that Cu deficiency may be primary, due to low Cu ingestion, or secondary due to high Fe ingestion.