Authors : Shen Xiao Yun, Xiong Kang Ning, Wang Xiao Li, Chen Yong Bi and Zhang Meng
Abstract: The Oula sheep was affected by high level of sulfur in forage in the Huangheshouqu Pasture in Gansu Province in the South of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. The related blood indices were measured. The mineral composition of forages, blood and liver in Oula sheep from ranches of high sulfur were compared with those of samples from normal areas. The concentration of copper in soil and forage was 16.8±7.1 and 6.39±1.26 μg g-1 (dry matter), respectively compared with 16.7±5.6 and 7.12±2.86 μg g-1. The mean concentration of Cu in blood and liver from the affected Oula sheep was 0.28±0.05 and 13.9±3.7 μg g-1, respectively compared with 0.86±0.16 and 107.6±11.2 μg g-1 for non-affected Oula sheep. The concentration of sulfur in soil and forage was 1.97±0.26 and 1.36±0.17%, respectively compared with 10.8±0.31 and 0.57±0.16% (dry matter) for normal animals. The content of S in blood and liver was 6.37±1.7 and 1.58±3.6%, respectively compared with 4.12±0.86 and 1.32±0.35% (in fresh and soft tissues), respectively. The 12 Cu-deficient sheep were obtained from the same location allocated to one of two treatments, consisting of supplement providing 42 mg day-1 of Cu sulfate or tribasic copper chloride. Treatment were delivered for 90 days. Liver Cu increased over time in all sheep regardless of treatment, however, sheep supplemented with tribasic copper chloride tended (p<0.01) to have higher mean liver Cu concentrations than those receiving Cu sulfate.
Shen Xiao Yun, Xiong Kang Ning, Wang Xiao Li, Chen Yong Bi and Zhang Meng, 2014. Effect of High Content of Sulfur in Forage on Serum Biochemical Values in Grazing Oula Sheep. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 519-523.