Some Major and Minor Element Needs for Egyptian Buffalo Calves

For many years, calcium and phosphorus have been recognized as critical nutrients in growing buffalo calves' rations. They will be discussed together since they are closely associated with each other in metabolism. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is important as well as the minimum levels. A range of 1.2: 1 to 2: 1 is ideal. These two minerals are essential for normal bone development, clotting of blood, and maintenance of acid base equilibrium. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and phosphorus from the gut as well as for depositing the minerals in the bone. Selenium is one of the essential required minerals for growing calves. The best understood function of selenium is as a component of the enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px). This enzyme converts hydrogen peroxide to water and is an important component of the cellular antioxidant system. In addition selenium is involved with metabolism of arachadonic acid via GSHpx. This relationship probably is one reason supplementation of selenium improves the killing ability of neutrophils. Moreover, selenium was identified as a component of Type I iodothyronine-5'-deiodinase which converts T4 to T3.

Autorentext

Assistent Prof. Fatma I. Hadhoud, is a researcher at Dairy Sci. Dept., NRC, Egypt since 2015 till now. Graduated at Faculty of Agri., Cairo Univ. in 2003. Obtained MSc in 2008, and PhD in 2015 from Anim. Prod. Dept., Fac. of Agri., Ain Shams Univ. Interested in dairy animals' nutrition and production, feed ingredients evaluation and rumenology.