Comparative study on serum macro and micro mineral profiles during oestrus in repeat breeding crossbred cattle with impaired and normal ovulation

Abstract

The study was conducted on 40 clinically healthy repeat breeding crossbred cattle (15 with anovulation, 15 with delayed ovulation and 10 with normal ovulation). The serum concentrations of calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (IP), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) during the oestrus were compared among the animals with normal and impaired ovulations. Ovulatory status of the experimental animals was determined through per rectum examination and blood samples were collected during the oestrus. The concentrations of Ca (mg %), IP (mg %) and Zn (ppm) varied significantly (P<0.01) among the animals with normal ovulation (9.58±0.49, 5.45±0.15 and 1.78±0.02), anovulation (6.48±0.13, 4.45±0.14 and 0.85±0.03) and delayed ovulation (7.36±0.13, 4.96±0.09 and 1.41±0.04). The concentrations of Mg (mg %) and Mn (ppm) were found to be significantly (P<0.01) lower in the animals with anovulation (2.64±0.04 and 0.14±0.01) compared to the animals with normal (3.12±0.05 and 28±0.01) and delayed ovulation (2.98±0.06 and 0.23±0.01). In contrast, Cu and Fe concentrations did not differ significantly among the different ovulatory groups. The results indicated that Ca, IP and Zn were probably crucial for the normal ovulatory process and Mg and Mn below the optimum level might have caused anovulation in crossbred cattle. However, Cu and Fe might have played little role in the ovulatory process in crossbred cattle.