Cattle hypocuprosis in Argentina associated with periodically flooded soils

• Autores: Ramírez, Carlos Eduardo; Mattioli, Guillermo Alberto; Tittarelli, Claudia Marcela; Giuliodori, Mauricio Javier; Yano, H.
• Año de publicación: 1998
• Idioma: español castellano
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Ciencias Veterinarias; Cattle; Copper; Deficiency; Argentina
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de La Plata

Although it has been known for a long time that hypocuprosis affects cattle in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentine), mostly during the spring, there has been no attempt to estimate the occurrence of this deficiency. A survey involving more than 200 farms was carried out in five districts of the Salado river basin, where hypocuprosis is endemic. A total of 4750 plasma samples were obtained during 1993 to 1996, and the Cu content was analyzed by atomic absorption spectro- photometry. Fifty-six per cent of cattle population in the five districts was hypocupremic (plasma Cu,60 mg dl21), while 14% was severely hypocupremic (,29 mg dl21). The highest incidence was during 1994, when 71% of cattle was hypocupremic and 26% was severely hypocupremic. During the spring a maximum of 37% of cattle was severely hypocupremic, which agrees with previous findings. The causes of hypocuprosis have been defined for the area, as low forage Cu with high S and Fe mainly during the autumn. A positive association between the occurrence of hypocuprosis and excesses of rainfall was found, that explain the seasonal pattern of hypocuprosis and the influence of floodings on hypocuprosis.
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias