Age features of elemental status for the Kalmyk cattle breed under conditions of Yakutia

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the work. The purpose of the study is to investigate age features of elemental status for the Kalmyk cattle breed, which is bred under conditions of biogeochemical province in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The object of study is calves at 2 months of age (n = 7), chicks at 12 months of age (n = 7) and cows (n = 7) bred in the biogeochemical province of Yakutia. Methods. The elemental composition of the hair was defined by the methods of atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Statistical data processing was conducted with a usage of Mann-Whitney U-test. The scientific novelty of the research is to study the patterns of formation of the elemental status of livestock depending on age. Results. It was found that the elemental composition of the Kalmyk cattle’s hair had differences depending on the age. Thus, heifers in 2 and young of 12 months of age exceeded the group of full-aged cows in the content of macronutrients in the wool: sodium by 81.6 and 60.4 % (p ˂ 0.05); potassium – by 38.9 % and 2 times, respectively (p ˂ 0.05); calcium – by 29.3 and 52.1 % (p ˂ 0.05); phosphorus – by 35.9 (p ˂ 0.05) and 20.2 %; magnesium by 30 and 26.4 % (unreliable). The concentration of chromium in the wool of full-aged cows is 46 % higher than that of calves (p ˂ 0.05) and 1.8 times higher than that of 12-month-old calves (unreliable).