Composição homeostática de metais essenciais e tóxicos em bezerros lactentes criados na região agreste de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

The study on heavy metal contamination in lactating calves is still very limited, particularly in the harsh region of the state of Pernambuco, where a large number of dairy farming properties are concentrated for milk production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the serum concentration of essential and toxic metals in suckling calves raised in Agreste de Pernambuco. For the detection of metals, 122 samples of blood serum from calves were used, from 18 farms, distributed in 12 municipalities of Agreste Pernambuco. Samples were collected from crossbred calves, male and female, infants, aged between one and thirty days, from herds in Agreste Central and Agreste Meridional. The serum samples were refrigerated at -4ºC, for subsequent digestion in microwave followed by analysis in an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), which were analyzed in duplicate, the calculated average and the results expressed in mg / L, for the determination of serum concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, Co, Cr, Cd, Al, Ni, Pb, Ca, P, Mg, K and S. It was found that calves raised in infants raised in the microregions from Agreste Pernambucano have high serum Fe concentrations and concentrations of Pb and Cd within the normal range for the species. In addition to milk consumption, other factors seem to affect the serum concentrations of trace elements and macrominerals in suckling calves, such as soil intake, provided by certain management practices. Higher concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cr, Al, Ca, P and Mg were observed in animals raised on properties close to highways. Breed and age influenced the serum concentration of macro and micro minerals in suckling calves.