Sulfur-Induced Copper Deficiency in the Yaks  

作　　者：SHEN Xiao-yun 

机构地区：[1]Department of Biology Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, PR. China [2]Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101,P.R. China

出　　处：《Agricultural Sciences in China》2009年第8期1000-1003,共4页中国农业科学（英文版）

基　　金：supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(90202009)

摘　　要：Since the 1990s, yak in the Haizi area in China has been affected by an ailment characterized by pica, emaciation, dyskinesia, and anemia. To determine the cause of disease, the mineral composition of soil and forages, and samples of blood, hair, and liver of yaks from the Haizi area in China were determined. The concentrations of copper in soil and forage from affected ranches and unaffected areas are within the normal ranges. The mean concentration of copper in blood and liver from the affected yaks was （0.31±0.03） and （13.7±3.1）μg·g^-1 respectively, compared with （0.98±0.16） and （95.6±11.2）μg·g^-1 for unaffected yaks. The concentrations of sulfur in soil and forage from affected ranches were （1.91±0.26） and （1.37±0.17）%, respectively, compared with （1.11±0.31） and （0.52±0.18）% （dry matter） for normal areas. The contents of sulfur in blood and liver affected animals were （7.32±1.8） and （2.54±3.1）%, respectively, compared with （4.22±0.73） and （1.31±0.33）% （in fresh and soft tissues） for healthy animals, respectively. Oral administration of tribasic copper chloride prevented and cured the disease. Thus it is reasonable to conclude that ailments of yaks in the Haizi area are probably caused by a secondary copper deficiency, mainly due to high sulfur content in soil and forage.Since the 1990s, yak in the Haizi area in China has been affected by an ailment characterized by pica, emaciation, dyskinesia, and anemia. To determine the cause of disease, the mineral composition of soil and forages, and samples of blood, hair, and liver of yaks from the Haizi area in China were determined. The concentrations of copper in soil and forage from affected ranches and unaffected areas are within the normal ranges. The mean concentration of copper in blood and liver from the affected yaks was （0.31±0.03） and （13.7±3.1）μg·g^-1 respectively, compared with （0.98±0.16） and （95.6±11.2）μg·g^-1 for unaffected yaks. The concentrations of sulfur in soil and forage from affected ranches were （1.91±0.26） and （1.37±0.17）%, respectively, compared with （1.11±0.31） and （0.52±0.18）% （dry matter） for normal areas. The contents of sulfur in blood and liver affected animals were （7.32±1.8） and （2.54±3.1）%, respectively, compared with （4.22±0.73） and （1.31±0.33）% （in fresh and soft tissues） for healthy animals, respectively. Oral administration of tribasic copper chloride prevented and cured the disease. Thus it is reasonable to conclude that ailments of yaks in the Haizi area are probably caused by a secondary copper deficiency, mainly due to high sulfur content in soil and forage.

关 键 词：YAK SULFUR COPPER NUTRITION DISEASE 

分 类 号：S823[农业科学—畜牧学]