Blood selenium and zinc concentration of female alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and their offspring during different physiological conditions

Abstract

Background: Minerals are important for animals in many biological functions. There is scarce information however about micromineral content in the blood of South American camelids under their prevalent production system. Aim: This study aims to determine whole blood selenium (Se) and serum zinc (Zn) concentrations of grazing alpacas at three different physiological states in the Peruvian Andean Highland. Methods: Blood samples were collected for measurement of whole blood Se and serum Zn concentrations from fifteen female alpacas at late gestation, peripartum, and late lactation, as well as their respective offspring, for them only two times were taken it account (ten days after birth and late lactation). The female alpacas at the beginning had a body weight of 47.5 ± 8 kg and an estimated age of 4.03 ± 0.93 years. Se and Zn content of pastures consumed by alpacas also were determined. The samples were taken during three different months according to the productive calendar of the alpacas. Results: The content of Se and Zn of the diet selected by alpacas met the requirements for the physiological states they go through in comparison with literature references. Serum Zn concentration of female alpacas was higher in peripartum (0.26 µg/ml), compared to late gestation and late lactation (P<0.05). A similar result was found in the case of their offspring at ten days after birth (0.23 µg/ml) Zn concentration was higher than for late lactation (P<0.05). Unlike Zn, in the case of Se, no differences were found between the physiological states studied for alpacas or their offspring. Conclusion: Serum Zn concentration changes through late gestation, peripartum, and late lactation in the female alpacas and their offspring ten days after birth and late lactation. Further investigation is needed to define the alpaca adequacy of Zn and Se in relation to the blood content of both minerals.