Mineral nutrient content of fresh water and salty lakes in the swamplands of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Seventeen samples of fresh water and 20 samples of salty lakes water collected in the Nhecolandia sub-region of the Pantanal, MS, Brazil, were used to determine mineral content and its contribution to beef cattle nutrition. The minerals analysed were: calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt and zinc. Iron presented the highest content (1,17 mg/l) in fresh water and sodium presented the highest content (484 mg/l) in salty lakes. Reduced intake of salt (NaCl) was observed in animals kept on pasture with salty and fresh water lakes compared to animals on pasture with fresh water only. Since NaCl is an important factor determining mineral supplement intake, the presence of salty lakes in pasture areas should be taken into account when formulating the mixture.