Influence of antagonistic minerals in soil and pastures on the blood and liver copper in goats in Khuzestan province, Iran

ABSTRACT

The copper level in the serum of 1280 and liver of 200 goats raised in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province, Iran were determined. Copper, molybdenum and iron content of soil and pastures as well as sulfur content of the pastures were seasonally estimated. Mean serum copper levels of goats in Behbahan, Ramhormoz, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman districts were 8.14 +/- 0.21, 1.98 +/- 0.12, 7.74 +/- 0.11 and 6.97 +/- 0.14 micro mol/L, respectively. The results showed that the blood copper of goats in the area was significantly was low in Behbahan, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman and at a deficient level in Ramhoromz. The results also revealed a high level of molybdenum in the soil and pasture as well as high amounts of sulfur in pastures of the studied area. In this survey the status of copper in many goat flocks around the studied towns was dangerously low. Many liver samples had a copper concentration below 30 mg/kg and many serum copper concentrations were below normal. The results of this study confirm the presence of a secondary copper deficiency in goats in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province