Effect of selected factors on mineral parameters in plasma of cows

Abstract. Objective of this paper was to evaluate the effects of herd, exploitation, management system, and season on blood macro and micro-minerals in cows kept in a mountainous region. The cows were kept in four herds, two exploitation manners, and two systems. Concentrations of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) were significantly differed in the factors of herd and exploitation only, levels of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) showed differences in all factors. Beef animals had higher level of P than dairy exploitation (1.59 mg.L⁻¹ vs. 1.42 mg.L⁻¹; P<0.01) and lower level of Ca (2.10 mg.L⁻¹ vs. 2.33 mg.L⁻¹; P<0.001). Higher concentrations of Cu and Zn were recorded in dairy exploitation (0.91 mg.L⁻¹, 1.17 mg.L⁻¹) versus beef exploitation (0.67 mg.L⁻¹, 0.86 mg.L⁻¹) (P<0.001). We found higher concentrations in Cu (0.84 mg.L⁻¹ vs. 0.62 mg.L⁻¹ , P<0.001) and Zn (1.06 mg.L⁻¹ vs. 0.96 mg.L⁻¹, P<0.05) in non-ecological system. There were higher values of Cu and Zn in fall than spring (0.90 mg.L⁻¹ and 1.10 mg.L⁻¹ vs. 0.67 mg.L⁻¹ and 0.93 mg.L⁻¹) (P<0.001).