SHORT COMMUNICATION
The effect of a copper, selenium and cobalt soluble
glass bolus on the trace element status of Bactrian
camels
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College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University,
Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, P.R. China
Publication date: 2007-09-17
Corresponding author
Z. P. Liu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University,
Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, P.R. China
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2007;16(Suppl. 2):313-317
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The trial was carried out to evaluate the performance of a soluble glass copper, cobalt and
selenium bolus for maintaining adequate levels of the three trace elements in Bactrian camels. The
sixty Bactrian camels, 30 females and 30 castrated males, selected for the study were 2-13 years
of age in Alashanyouqi County of Inner Mongolia and were allocated to two groups by restricted
randomization. One group each had two 100 g soluble glass boluses (manufactured by Pilkington
Controlles Release Systems Ltd., UK) administered with the other group not receiving a bolus
to act as a control. Blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture at days 0 (prior to bolus
administration) and at days 30, 60 and 90. The samples were analysed for copper status (serum
caeruloplasmin activity and copper concentration), cobalt status (serum vitamin B12 concentration
and cobalt concentration), selenium status (erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium
concentration) and serum zinc concentration. The erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activities,
ceruloplasmin activities and vitamin B12 concentrations in serum were significantly increased for
the bolused Bactrian camels (P<0.01) on all sampling days. The bolused camels had a significantly
higher selenium and copper status in serum than the control Bactrian camels throughout the trial
(P<0.01). The selenium and copper status of all the Bactrian camels was in the normal range. The
selenium and copper status indicators indicate an adequate selenium and copper concentrations.
There were no significant differences in zinc and cobalt concentrations between the bolused camels
and the controls.