Possible Association of Some Minerals Deficiencies on Infertility

This study aim to establish a base-line data of minerals that are related to fertility. Different four agro-ecological zones were selected. The Surveys revealed the presence of Cu, Zn and Mn deficiencies in the serum of animals with different physiological status at the different locations, except P deficiency at only one location. The animals showed severe reproductive impairment, with long calving interval and high repeat breeder's percentage. Soil and feed analysis showed low Cu, Zn, Mn and P concentrations, except Co showed high concentration. Serum, soil and feeds laboratory studies, and reproductive performance and managerial measurement data analysis revealed that mineral deficiency could be the major cause of reproductive performance impairment in dairy cattle. The severity of mineral deficiencies was shown high in exotic and crossbred ones more than the indigenous breed. This could be due to that exotic and cross-bred cows had high minerals requirements. The mineral concentrations varies in the animals serum according to the physiological status, this revealed that the minerals requirements could be governed by breed, age and the production status.