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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Phosphorus and trace element status of anoestrus and repeat breeder crossbred cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Joy, George; KAU; Prabhakaran Nair, K
    The role of phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt in reproductive function was evaluated on the basis of serum values of these elements in fertile, anoestrum and repeat breeder cows. Serum samples drawn from seventeen cows each of fertile, anoestrum and repeat breeder cows were analysed for serum inorganic phosphorus and trace elements namely copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt. Cows and heifers which conceived with one or two inseminations were considered as fertile animals. Anoestrus and repeat breeder cows were selected based on the breeding history and clinico – gynaecological examination. Serum inorganic phosphorus was estimated by modified metol method using kits. The levels of serum inorganic phosphorus was 7.526 + 0.5304 mg% in fertile cows as against 6.082 + 0.337 mg% for anoestrus cows and 6.345 + 0.4474 mg% in repeat breeder cows. The level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in anoestrus cows than in fertile cows. It can be surmised that hypophosphataemia might be the cause for anoestrum. Though inorganic phosphorus level in serum was lower in repeat breeders than in fertile cows it was not statistically significant. Hence the effect of hypophosphataemia in repeat could not be established with certainty. Serum copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry by perkin Elmer – 2380 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Among these trace elements the serum level of copper only was found to significantly vary among fertile, anoestrus and repeat breeder cows. The serum copper in fertile cows registered a value of 0.733 + 0.0511 ppm which was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those recorded for anoestrus (0.509 + 0.0591 ppm) and repeat breeder cows (0.542 + 0.415 ppm). Since liver is a storage organ for copper the serum levels of copper will drop only after depletion of liver storage. It is therefore reasonable to assume that hypocuprosis as evidenced by lower serum values might have contributed to anoestrum and repeat breeding. The serum zinc, manganese and cobalt levels in fertile cows were respectively 1.337 + 0.1555 ppm, 0.0553 + 0.0095 ppm and 0.0702 + 0.0100 ppm. The corresponding values for anoestrus cows were 1.028 + 0.0984; 0.0339 + 0.0052 ppm and 0.0641 + 0.0052 ppm. These values did not vary significantly from those of fertile cows. Similarly the corresponding values for repeat breeders were recorded to be 1.017 + 0.0654 ppm, 0.0429 + 0.0033 ppm and 0.0795 + 0111 ppm which did not differ significantly from values of fertile cows. Therefore the role of zinc, manganese and cobalt in anoestrum and repeat breeding could not be established.