[en] Basing on soil and forage analyses and on clinical signs, trace element deficiencies can be expected to occur in Wallonian dairy and beef cattle herds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trace element status of these herds and to determine whether differences could be demonstrated between dairy and beef herds.
Thirty beef cattle herds and 26 dairy cattle herds that presented health problems or production disturbances underwent a close observation combined with blood samples taken from a sample of healthy animals in order to analyse zinc, copper, erythrocytes’ superoxyde dismutase and erythrocytes’ gluthathion peroxidase (selenium’s marker).
Multiple deficiencies were detected in 84% of the herds. No significant difference was found between dairy and beef herds concerning the zinc and copper status, although a significant higher prevalence of selenium deficiency was shown in beef herds.
Further studies are needed to demonstrate the impact of the deficiencies on animals’ health and production by re-evaluating these herds after trace element supplementation.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Guyot, Hugues ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département clinique des animaux de production (DCP) > Médecine interne des équidés, des ruminants et des porcs
Language :
French
Title :
Mise en évidence de carences en oligo-éléments au sein de troupeaux bovins laitiers et viandeux en Wallonie
Alternative titles :
[en] Evidence of trace element deficiencies in Wallonian dairy and beef cattle herds
Defense date :
2002
Institution :
ULiège - Université de Liège
Degree :
Diplôme d'Etudes Spécialisées en Gestion Intégrée de la Santé et des Productions Animales
