Mineral deficiency in cattle of Roraima, Brazil I. Zinc and cobalt

Abstract

An experiment was conducted using samples from six regions of the northeast of Roraima Federal Territory, Brazil. The soil, forage, and bovine tissue (liver) were collected during the wet and dry season of the year. Forage Zn values were deficient in all six regions. Liver Zn was low in all regions, and during the wet season the deficiency was more pronounced (79 ppm in cows and 76 ppm in yearling animals) than in the dry season (108 ppm in cows and 115 ppm in yearling animals).Soil Co in five regions were 0.32, 0.25, 0.24. 0.18, and 0.12 ppm, and 0.06 ppm in one region only Forage Co levels were adequate in only one region, but liver Co levels were normal in all regions. All forage species were Zn deficient. Of the eight forage species evaluated for Co content, four were normal and four deficient.