Copper status of crossbred cows of the organised and rural dairy herds in central Punjab

Abstract

A base-line survey was conducted to assess copper status of crossbred cows. The concentrations of copper in serum (11.% µmol/litre) and hair (7.42 ppm) were significantly lower in the crossbred cows of rural dairy herds than those of the cows of an organised farm (serum 15.6 µmol/litre, hair 13.2 ppm). The prevalence rate of hypocupraemia was 34.6% at rural dairy units as compared to 7.14% in the organised herd. Studies suggested that low copper status could be attributed to high molybdenum and low levels of copper in diet. Hair depigmentation was observed only in 16.7% of the deficient cows. Non-specific sighs including unthriftiness or prolonged calving to service period were observed in 66.7% of rural herds. Sighnificantly hgh hair molybdenum content (12.19 vs 3.93 pm) was recorded in clinical but not in non-clinical copper deficiency. The study showed that hair content provided more integrated recored of dietary molybdenum intake than the plasma. Results also revealed decreased hair copper concentration in copper definciency.