| Popis: |
The mineral status of beef cattle in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand, was examined by evaluating macro-mineral concentrations in forage and blood plasma samples. Investigations were conducted at four cattle farming sites (Chana, Klong Hoi Khong, Na Thawi and Thepha) during the dry season and the light rainy season in 1995. Blood samples were taken from crossbred native X Brahman cattles. Samples of native and improved forage were collected from grassland where cattle were actually grazing. It was observed that 87.8 and 70.9% of the forage analyzed were deficient in P an Na, respectively, Plasma concentrations of Pi, Ca and Mg and blood hemoglobin and hematocrit differed significantly with different sites. However, Ca concentrations as well as that of Mg, hemoglobin and hematocrit were all within normal range. Eighty, 54.55,33.33 and 55% of the samples in the dry season and 100,70, 100 and 100% of the samples in the light rainy season from the four sites, respectively, had plasma Pi concentrations below the critical level (4.5mg/dl). Attention should be paid to the P and Na dificiencies in cattle production in Songkhla province, southern Thailand. |
