Mineral deficiency in cattle of Roraima, Brazil. III. Calcium and phosphorus

Abstract

A study about mineral deficiency in cattie was conducted in six regions of northeast Roraima federal territory, Brazil, by examining soil, forage and animal tissue (blood and bane) during the dry and wet seasons. The levels of Ca in soil and forage were deficient in five regions. Plasma Ca was normal in (lactation cows and yearlings) all the six regions for the two seasons. Bane ash percentage of cows was low in four regions. Cows were slightly deficient in bane ash Ca in three regions (35.7%, 36.4% and 36.5%) and deficient in the other three (30.6%, 31.6% and 33.4%). Bane ash percentage in yearlings was deficient in all six regions. Soil P levels ranged from 2.1 ppm to 4.3 ppm among the regions. Forage P levels were deficient in five regions. Plasma P levels were low in almost all regions, but in two, they were normal for the yearlings. Bone ash P levels were deficient and ranged from 9.9% to 14.2% in the cows and 9.2% to 12.7% in yearlings. In both cows and yearlings, P was lower during the wet season.