FIELD INVESTIGATIONS OF SOME BLOOD TRACE ELEMENTS IN BUFFALO-CALVES SUFFERING FROM LOSS OF HAIR AND SKIN LESIONS

SADIEK, A.H.; RADWAN, M.E.; SAYED, A.S.

doi:10.21608/avmj.1994.185783

FIELD INVESTIGATIONS OF SOME BLOOD TRACE ELEMENTS IN BUFFALO-CALVES SUFFERING FROM LOSS OF HAIR AND SKIN LESIONS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

10.21608/avmj.1994.185783

Abstract

A total number of 80 buffalo-calves, 2-6 months of age in El-Hawatka buffaloe farm were involved in this study. Sixty buffalo-calves were clinically affected and 20 buffalo-calves were clinically healthy and served as control. The obvious signs were massive loss of hair at different regions of the body, rough coat and unthriftness. Erythema, viscles p < /strong>ap < /strong>ules, scales, fissure and parakeratosis were markedly observed in the nuded areas of skin. These signs were clinically suggestive for trace elements deficiency. Blood serum levels of zinc, copper, iron and manganese were estimated. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) total and differential leucocytic cout were also investigated. The study revealed that post-weaning bufflo-calves in this farm suffered from deficiency of zinc (P<0.001), copper (P<0.001) and manganese (P<0.05) in thier blood sera resulting in poor growth, unthriftness, and coat and skin abnormalities. Addition of mineral mixture containing an adequate amounts of zinc, copper and manganese to the concentrate calf mixture for one month proved improvement of the condition.