Determining mineral imbalances in Sistani cattle diet based on local pasture

Abstract This research conducted to determine which minerals might be deficient or excess in Iranian Sistani cattle diet based on mostly-grazed plant species. In late spring season of Sistan basin (located in southwestern Iran), four sites including Saberi, Lorg-Bagh, Kuh-Khaje and Zahak were selected and six major forage species consumed by Sistani cows including Phragmites australis, Bolboschoenus glaucus, Aeluropus lagopoides, Tamarix spp, Cyperus longus and Setaria sp were sampled and analyzed for minerals. Average macro-mineral concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chorine, sulfur and micro-minerals of iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, cobalt and selenium were 17.37, 0.78, 6.85, 15.40, 3.13, 14.22, 9.49 g/kg and 820.2, 20.0, 72.8, 93.2, 0.43, 0.21 and 0.18 mg/kg for sampling sites and 12.14, 0.77, 6.35, 17.85, 3.59, 14.40, 5.01 g/kg and 1106.0, 18.5, 64.8, 122.4, 0.32, 0.19, and 0.16 mg/kg for forage species, respectively. Comparison of the plant minerals with Sistani cattle mineral requirements showed that Sistani cattle grazing natural indigenous forages was exposed to phosphorus deficiency and iron excess.