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Selenium and copper status of camels in Al-Jouf area (Saudi Arabia)

Tropical Animal Health and Production volume 44, pages 551–556 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to understand the changes in copper and selenium status in camel dam and calf around the calving period, blood samples were collected in 26 she-camel before delivery and after as well as their calves after birth. The mean values for the mother and their newborn were respectively 70.3 ± 19.8 and 58.6 ± 13.9 μg/100 ml for copper, 5.3 ± 3.7 and 4.6 ± 1.7 μg/100 ml for selenium. No change was observed for copper, but selenium increased after parturition in 81% of the case. The selenium status of camel calf was correlated with those of its mother, but not the copper. As the whole the correlation between selenium and copper was significantly positive. The selenium status was improved in camel receiving diet enriched with barley. The maternal transfer to milk has to be investigated.

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Acknowledgements

This study was carried out within FAO project UTF/SAU/021/SAU with the support of Camel and range research Center (CRRC). The authors thank Mr. Sallal Issa Al-Mutairi, head of the CRRC, for his encouragements and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Camel and range Research Center, P.O. Box 322, Al-Jouf, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia

    Ossama Mohamed Athamna & Bernard Faye

  2. FAO Sub-Regional Office 43, Avenue Kheireddine Pacha-1002, Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia

    Mohammed Bengoumi

  3. CIRAD-ES, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA C/dir B, 34398, Montpellier, France

    Bernard Faye

Authors
  1. Ossama Mohamed Athamna
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  2. Mohammed Bengoumi
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  3. Bernard Faye
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Correspondence to Bernard Faye.

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Athamna, O.M., Bengoumi, M. & Faye, B. Selenium and copper status of camels in Al-Jouf area (Saudi Arabia). Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 551–556 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9910-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9910-5

Keywords

  • Trace element
  • Selenium
  • Calving
  • Camel
  • Requirements
  • Diet