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Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Received: 11 December 2013    Accepted:     Published: 20 February 2014
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Abstract

A study conducted in the major grazing areas of Uasin Gishu involved twenty-eight (28) soils, twenty-eight (28) forage and forty-two (42) serum samples collected in six divisions at different sites. The purpose of the study was to determine the macro-and trace elements in soils, forages and animal serum, and compare to the recommended standards so as to identify those that could be presenting deficiencies in the area. Soils were extracted for available macro-minerals; Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg) and trace elements; Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn; the forage samples were assayed for the same elements plus phosphorus as total concentration on dry matter (DM) basis while blood serum was analyzed for the same forage elements plus molybdenum (Mo). Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV/visible spectrophotometer were used to analyze the metal elements and molybdenum respectively. Soil and Forage analysis of samples from southern region including Kesses and Ainabkoi revealed lower levels in both macro and trace elements analyzed. Serum samples from grazing areas situated in southern region revealed similar deficiencies in most minerals. The factors responsible for the variations as soil pH, forage species and cattle breed were investigated using correlation analysis.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15
Page(s) 44-48
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Grazing Areas, Assessment, Sample Analysis, Mineral Deficiencies, Uasin Gishu County

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Shisia K. Silvanus, Ngure Veronica, Nyambaka Hudson, Jumba Isaac, Oduor Fredrick. (2014). Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 3(2), 44-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15

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    ACS Style

    Shisia K. Silvanus; Ngure Veronica; Nyambaka Hudson; Jumba Isaac; Oduor Fredrick. Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2014, 3(2), 44-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15

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    AMA Style

    Shisia K. Silvanus, Ngure Veronica, Nyambaka Hudson, Jumba Isaac, Oduor Fredrick. Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2014;3(2):44-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15,
      author = {Shisia K. Silvanus and Ngure Veronica and Nyambaka Hudson and Jumba Isaac and Oduor Fredrick},
      title = {Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {44-48},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20140302.15},
      abstract = {A study conducted in the major grazing areas of Uasin Gishu involved twenty-eight (28) soils, twenty-eight (28) forage and forty-two (42) serum samples collected in six divisions at different sites. The purpose of the study was to determine the macro-and trace elements in soils, forages and animal serum, and compare to the recommended standards so as to identify those that could be presenting deficiencies in the area. Soils were extracted for available macro-minerals; Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg) and trace elements; Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn; the forage samples were assayed for the same elements plus phosphorus as  total concentration on dry matter (DM) basis while blood serum was analyzed for the same forage elements plus molybdenum (Mo). Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV/visible spectrophotometer were used to analyze the metal elements and molybdenum respectively. Soil and Forage analysis of samples from southern region including Kesses and Ainabkoi revealed lower levels in both macro and trace elements analyzed. Serum samples from grazing areas situated in southern region revealed similar deficiencies in most minerals. The factors responsible for the variations as soil pH, forage species and cattle breed were investigated using correlation analysis.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
    AU  - Shisia K. Silvanus
    AU  - Ngure Veronica
    AU  - Nyambaka Hudson
    AU  - Jumba Isaac
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 44
    EP  - 48
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140302.15
    AB  - A study conducted in the major grazing areas of Uasin Gishu involved twenty-eight (28) soils, twenty-eight (28) forage and forty-two (42) serum samples collected in six divisions at different sites. The purpose of the study was to determine the macro-and trace elements in soils, forages and animal serum, and compare to the recommended standards so as to identify those that could be presenting deficiencies in the area. Soils were extracted for available macro-minerals; Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg) and trace elements; Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn; the forage samples were assayed for the same elements plus phosphorus as  total concentration on dry matter (DM) basis while blood serum was analyzed for the same forage elements plus molybdenum (Mo). Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV/visible spectrophotometer were used to analyze the metal elements and molybdenum respectively. Soil and Forage analysis of samples from southern region including Kesses and Ainabkoi revealed lower levels in both macro and trace elements analyzed. Serum samples from grazing areas situated in southern region revealed similar deficiencies in most minerals. The factors responsible for the variations as soil pH, forage species and cattle breed were investigated using correlation analysis.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Chemistry, Laikipia University, Kenya

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Laikipia University, Kenya

  • Department of Chemistry, Kenyatta University, Kenya

  • Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Kenya

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