Evaluation of macro, micro, and toxic minerals in Dates fodder in Basra, Southern Iraq‏

Abstract

Mineral concentrations in plants are affected by a number of factors, which in turn affect the amounts available directly or indirectly to animals, so the concentration of some nutrients may be insufficient for the needs of animals. The article aimed to evaluate a wide variety of chemical elements in date fodder often used to feed cows, buffaloes, and sheep in Basra Governorate, Southern Iraq. In addition, it establishes the acceptability of chemical element concentrations in the dates, which included macro-minerals, micro-elements, and hazardous metals. The feed was prepared to be digested and then all minerals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) equipment to determine the amounts of macro-minerals, micro-elements, and hazardous elements in the feed. Where macro-minerals included (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur) and micro-elements included (iron, copper, nickel, selenium, chromium, tin, silicon, vanadium, and molybdenum, while toxic elements included (aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, uranium, and lead). Most major and minor elements had low values compared to the critical level determined for their presence in fodders, as all elements did not reach the maximum tolerable(4.5% of macro-minerals and 40 ppm of micro-elements) and much less than the minimum limit(<0.06 of macro-minerals and <0.20ppm of micro-elements), whereas the toxic elements in the chosen dates fodder had low and acceptable concentrations compared to the risk index for their presence in fodder(100 mg Kg-1). The current study helps farmers in Basra Governorate in their understanding of the mineral nutritional needs of cattle while relying significantly on this type of fodder.