The copper, cobalt, iron, selenium and zinc status of cattle in the Sanyati and Chinamhora smallholder grazing areas of Zimbabwe

The trace mineral status of cattle in the smallholder grazing areas of Sanyati and Chinamhora in Zimbabwe was evaluated during the rainy and dry seasons of 1994 and 1995. The evaluation was done in terms of mineral concentration in blood plasma. Plasma copper in calves, steers and cows in the dry season was; Sanyati: 0.55, 0.59, and 0.61; Chinamhora: 0.59, 0.58, and 0.60 mu g/ml, respectively versus a normal of 0.65 mu g/ml. In the rainy season, copper was deficient at both sites (averaging 0.56 mu g/ml and 0.59 mu g/ml at Sanyati and Chinamhora, respectively). Plasma selenium in the dry season was 0.017, 0.025, and 0.017 mu g/ml for calves, steers and cows, respectively at Sanyati versus a normal of 0.03 mu g/ml and therefore considered to be deficient. Iron, zinc and cobalt were found to be generally high and therefore unlikely to be deficient. Copper and selenium are recommended in salt licks in these environments.