Mineral deficiency in cattle in Roraima, Brazil. V. Copper and molybdenum

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to verify the mineral deficiency in beef cattle in six regions of the northeast of the Roraima Federal Territory, Brazil. Soil, forage and bovine tissues (liver) were collected during the wet and dry seasons of the year. Soil extractable Mo means ranged from 0.01 ppm to 0.50 ppm. These concentrations are low for some plants. Forage Cu and Mo levels were in a range of 1.5 ppm to 3.6 ppm and from 0.51 ppm to 0.54 ppm, respectively. Forage Cu means were low for cattle, but Mo means were at adequate levels. During the dry season, forage Cu levels ranged from 1.33 ppm to 4.63 ppm, and during the wet season from 1.56 ppm to 2.57 ppm. Liver Cu and Mo levels were adequate for cattle and ranged from 120 ppm to 271 ppm and from 1.58 ppm to 3.33 ppm, respectively.