Evaluation of the serum and liver manganese, molybdenum, iron and copper concentrations and their relationships with serum macro-minerals in Holstein dairy cows

Liver and serum concentrations of manganese (Mn)، molybdenum (Mo)، iron (Fe)، copper (Cu) and blood macro-minerals and their interrelationships were investigated in Holstein cows. Mean liver Mn، Mo، Fe and Cu were 4. 8، 1. 14، 0. 15 and 0. 06 mg/kg DM and serum were 14. 4، 0. 55، 0. 07 and 0. 21ng/dl and serum sodium، potassium، phosphorus and calcium (Ca) were 134، 4. 08، 1. 21 and 1. 92 mmol/l، respectively. Mean liver and serum elements in males and females cows in different ages were not significant different except for serum potassium which was different between gender of animals. Various relationships were observed among liver and serum elements in that the greatest correlations were in Mo and Fe and the lowest in Cu. The most correlations were found between liver Mo/serum Fe (r=0. 91)، liver Mo/Cu (r=0. 85)، serum/liver Mo (r=0. 81)، liver/serum Mn (r=0. 76) and liver Cu/serum Fe (r=0. 73). Serum Ca showed correlations with serum Mo and Fe، liver Mo، Cu and Fe. The strong correlation was between serum Ca/liver Fe (r=0. 81). In conclusion، trace elements in the liver and serum were appropriately correlated with each other while not among serum macro-minerals except in Ca which was correlated with other elements. The elements were more positive than negative correlation and among serum elements were greater than in liver elements. The role of serum and liver Mo، Fe and Ca seems more determinant than Mn and Cu. Thus، supplementation of trace elements in diet will improve the serum elements and liver reserves that directly prevent mineral deficiencies in cows.