Influence of antagonistic minerals in soil and pastures onthe blood and liver copper in goats in Khuzestanprovince, Iran

The copper level in the serum of 1280 and liver of 200 goats raised in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province, Iran were determined. Copper, molybdenum and iron content of soil and pastures as well as sulfur content of the pastures were seasonally estimated. Mean serum copper levels of goats in Behbahan,Ramhormoz, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman districts were 8.14 ± 0.21, 1.98 ± 0.12, 7.74 ± 0.11 and 6.97 ±0.14 (mu)mol/L, respectively. The results showed that the blood copper of goats in the area was significantly(P 0.05) low in autumn and winter in comparison with spring and summer. The liver copper concent ration was low in Behbahan, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman and at a deficient level in Ramhormoz. The results also revealed a high level of molybdenum in the soil and pasture as well as high amounts of sulfur in pastures ofthe studied areas. In this survey the status of copper in many goat flocks around the studied towns was dangerously low. Many liver samples had a copper concentration below 30 mg/kg and many serum copperconcentrations were below normal. The results of this study confirm the presence of a secondary copperdeficiency in goats in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province.