Blood mineral, trace-element and vitamin concentrations in Huacaya alpacas and Merino sheep grazing the same pasture
G. J. Judson A D F , B. A. McGregor B E and A. M. Howse CA South Australian Research & Development Institute, 33 Flemington Street, Glenside, SA 5065, Australia.
B Livestock Production Sciences, Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, Attwood, Vic. 3049, Australia.
C Biosciences Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, 475 Mickleham Road, Attwood, Vic. 3049, Australia.
D Present address: 49 Kent Street, Hawthorn, SA 5062, Australia.
E Present address: Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. 3217, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: judson@adelaide.on.net
Animal Production Science 51(10) 873-880 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11011
Submitted: 21 January 2011 Accepted: 28 July 2011 Published: 11 October 2011
Abstract
We aimed to determine whether the concentration of minerals and trace constituents in blood of Merino sheep and Huacaya alpacas grazing the same pasture differed with species and time of sampling. Blood samples and pasture samples were collected at frequent intervals over a period of 2 years for mineral and trace-nutrient assay. The concentration of the minerals and trace nutrients in the grazed pasture usually met the dietary needs of sheep at maintenance, apart from potassium, sulfur, cobalt and Vitamin E in occasional samples. Restricted maximum likelihood mixed model analysis indicated a significant (P < 0.001) species by month by year interaction for all blood constituents assayed, a significant (P < 0.05) species by coat shade interaction for plasma Vitamin D, E and B12 and a significant (P < 0.001) species by month by Vitamin D interaction for plasma phosphorus concentrations. In general, plasma calcium concentrations were greater in sheep than in alpacas but plasma magnesium concentrations were greater in alpacas than in sheep. There was no consistent difference between the two species in plasma phosphorus concentrations although low values were recorded in individual sheep and alpacas. Plasma Vitamin D concentrations were more responsive to increasing hours of sunlight in alpacas than they were in sheep. Sheep had consistently higher concentrations of plasma copper, zinc and Vitamin B12 and higher concentrations of blood selenium but lower concentrations of plasma selenium and Vitamin A, than did alpacas. No consistent difference was observed between the two species in plasma Vitamin E concentrations.
Additional keywords: fleece colour, pasture minerals.
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