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Abstract
SUMMARY
By the beginning of the 21st century, the plant life in the oases of Egypt have completely changed. About 500,000 acres are expected to be reclaimed and cultivated in the western desert after transferring the Nile water to these areas through the Toschka canal. Under these circumstances the New-Valley governorate is considered one of the most promising areas for agricultural expansion in Egypt.
For this purpose, this study aimed to set up an idea on the values of some mineral in blood serum of sheep in relation to the environment in this area.
To make a survey on the apparent signs of minerals deficiency in sheep, 42 herds were included in this study. These 42 herds constituted a total of 2800 sheep of different ages (<3 months to 3 years), sex, productive and reproductive status. These animals belonged to different localities at El-Kharga oasis (302 animal, 136 male and 166 female from El Monera, Ganah, El Thawra, Boulak, Darb El Arbayin village and El Rowad company) and El-Dakhla oasis (182 animal, 74 male and 108 female from Mout, El Rashda, West El Mawhoub, El Maasara and El Hendaw village).
After clinical and parasitological examinations, a total number of 484 parasite free sheep were selected. Of these selected animals, a total of 442 sheep were apparently healthy and 42 cases manifested symptoms suggesting mineral disturbances. These cases included steely wool, alopecia, enzootic ataxia and goiter.
Blood samples were taken from each sheep by jugular vein puncture in addition to soil and forage samples from these areas for estimation of Ca, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and I in blood serum of sheep and agronomical samples.
The results showed that the mean values (±SD) of extractable mineral concentrations of the New Valley soils for Ca (mEq/100g), P (ppm), Fe (ppm), Cu (ppm), Zn (ppm) and I (ppm) were 2.619±0.351, 6.297±0.981, 12.491±3.200, 0.241±0.075, 1.035±0.240 and 0.212±0.058 respectively. On the other hand, the mean values (±SD) of mineral concentrations of Ca (%), P (%), Fe (ppm), Cu (ppm), Zn (ppm) and I (ppm) in forages in New Valley were 0.504±0.104, 0.179±0.026, 285.909±32.859, 5.503±0.936, 26.455±4.818 and 0.048±0.010 respectively. In water, the mineral concentrations were 50.8±6.2, 0.0059±0.0003, 4.082±0.451, 0.0015±0.0001, 0.0050±0.0002, 0.0019±0.0002 ppm respectively.
These estimated values in soil and forages were above the recommended marginal levels for Ca, Fe and Zn but were low for P and I. Minerals in water were within the levels recommended by the WHO, but Fe concentration was high.
The over all mean value of blood serum Ca, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and I ± SD (mg/dl) recorded for 484 sheep at different localities at El Kharga and El Dakhla cities and at different physiological stages including different ages, sex, productive and reproductive stages was 9.26 ± 1.32, 4.39± 1.03, 139.5± 27.9, 64.55± 22.78, 65.45± 23.51 and 6.03± 2.28 respectively.
These results indicated that the blood serum of sheep reared in the Egyptian oasis were normal and above the deficiency limits for Ca and Fe but it were near the border line for P, Cu, Zn and it were deficient in I.
Calculated F value assessed by General linear model Analysis of variance (GLM-ANOVA) was significant for all the estimated minerals in blood serum of sheep.
Sources of these variations were indicated by the variations in locality, age, sex, productive (lactation) and reproductive status of the investigated sheep.
Correlation value (r) between mineral concentrations in both soil and forage and in blood serum of sheep was non significant for Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and I while it was positive for P.
Correlation value between mineral concentrations in blood serum of sheep was negative between calcium and each of Cu, Zn and I. Fe showed also negative correlation with Cu, Zn and I.
The most apparent clinical signs appeared on sheep due to mineral deficiency in the Egyptian oasis were steely wool, alopecia, staggering in gait, incoordination and enlargement of the thyroid gland. The deficiency of P, Cu, Zn and I were the most common causes of these signs.
ANOVA revealed that there was significant reduction of Cu concentrations in blood serum of sheep manifesting signs of steely wool and enzootic ataxia. The group of sheep manifesting alopecia exhibited low values of the mean concentrations of blood serum P, Cu, Zn and I, whereas those manifesting signs of goiter revealed significant reduction in the mean values of blood serum I concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
Mineral status in the New Valley soils were at the border line for Ca, Cu and Zn but it was sufficient for Fe. Mineral in forages were at the border line for Ca and Cu, and sufficient for Fe and Zn. In soils and forages, both P and I concentrations showed marked deficiency. In water these minerals were within the levels recommended by the WHO, but Fe concentration was high.
Mineral status in the New Valley sheep was normal for Ca and Fe while it was at near the border for P, Cu and Zn. On the other hand, I concentrations showed marked deficiency. The physiological events as age, sex, reproductive and reproductive status in addition to locality of sheep played variable roles on the mean values of mineral concentrations in sheep.
The interaction between mineral concentrations in both soil and pasture and in blood serum of sheep was significant only for phosphorous. In the blood serum, calcium concentration was positively correlated with phosphorous, but it was negatively correlated with Cu, Zn and I. On the other hand, the concentration of Fe in the blood serum of sheep was negatively correlated with the concentrations of Cu, Zn and I.
The most apparent clinical signs appeared on sheep due to mineral deficiency in the Egyptian oasis were steely wool, alopecia, goiter and enzootic ataxia. The deficiency of P, Cu, Zn and I were the most common causes of these signs.
The obtained data can be used as reference values for blood serum of sheep grazing in the New-valley area.
Finally, this study explores the opportunities for future research into the application of the effect of the geochemical maps and interacting minerals on livestock health especially in newly reclaimed areas as the New Valley.