Transition values of organic chromium, organic zinc and organic selenium to blood vein depends on time in weaning holstein calves

Chromium, Zinc and Selenium are the essential minerals for the growth and immune system development of young animals. For this reason the use of organic forms of these minerals is becoming popular as a feed additives in calf feed as bioavailability of organic minerals is very high. In this study organic chromium, Zinc and Selenium were orally drenched with water to the weaned calves and concentration level of these minerals were determined in the blood and feces at specific intervals. A total 40 Holstein calves of 75-90 days old were used in this study which were divided into four groups (Control, 0.5 g Chromium, 0.5 g Zinc and 0.5 g Selenium). Feed was withdrawn from the calves eight hours before the beginning of study. Then, all the animals were drenched the respective treatment while control was just drenched with water only. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 24 hours after the drenching of treatments and fecal samples from the rectum were obtained at 4, 6, 8,12, 24,48 and 72 hours after the treatments. Feed was resumed to the calves 5 hours after the drenching of treatments. Serum and plasma were separated from the blood to determine ALT, AST,GGT, Glucose, Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Protein, Chromium, Zinc and Selenium. Roughages and concentrates feed consumed by the animals and feces were analysed for Chromium, Zinc and Selenium contents. In Chromium group animals the absorption of Cr was beginning at 1 hour postdrenching and reaching at peak level in 6 hours and then declining after 24 hours but Cr level remains relatively higher than the beginning levels.The Cr level was relatively higher in blood and feces of treatment groups as compared to control group. In Zn group animals the absorption of Zn was rapid and reamined at higher levels in blood for 24 hours and 48 hours in feces. Rapid peaks were not observed in the first 12 hours for Zn levels in blood and feces. In Se group the absorption of Se was started after 1 hour and remained constant up to 24 hours while no significant increase was seen in feces up to 24 hours. In conclusion, oral administration of these organic minerals to the the newly weaned calves resulted in increased bood levels of these minerals rapidly and remained at higher levels for long time (24 hours) which depicted the higher bioavailabilty of these minerals although there was no supplementation of these minerals in the feed as feed additive.