PSXIV-13 - Reference Intervals for the Concentrations of Main Essential and Toxic Elements in the Hair from the Mane of the Yakut Horses Bred in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Abstract: Imbalances of trace elements pose a serious threat to health and productive qualities of farm animals and poultry. In this regard, the next stage in the development of the science of feeding will be the control and optimization of the intake of mineral substances, including the determination of the elemental composition in biosubstrates. One of these biosubstrates can be hair. An analysis of literature data showed that the amount of available information on the content of trace elements in horsehair is limited, it makes it difficult to interpret laboratory data. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to establish reference intervals for the concentrations of main chemical elements in the hair of horses of the Yakut breed bred in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Hair samples were taken from the area of the mane from the first cervical vertebra in physiologically healthy mares of the Yakut breed (n=120; age 3-5 years) bred in livestock enterprises of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) of Russia. The elemental composition of the samples was estimated according to 25 chemical elements (Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Hg, Sr, V, Zn) by ICP AES and ICP MS. Reference intervals of chemical elements in animal hair were calculated using the recommendations of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standard Guidelines (Poulsen et al., 1997; 2.5-97.5 percentile). As a result of the research, the following values of the limits of the intervals (mg/kg) were established: Al(10.59-29.01); As(0.018-0.041); B(0.198-1.09); Ca(702-1117); CD(0.004-0.052); Co(0.011-0.042); Cr(0.253-0.504); Cu(5.03-7.99); Fe(26.12-47.43); Hg(0.002-0.011); I(0.083-0.166); K(211-1009); Li(0.019-0.092); Mg(196-400); Mn(0.825-3.81); Na(75.95-495.0); Ni(0.127-0.407); P(345-454); Pb(0.089-0.305); Se(0.013-0.185); Si(22.58-44.55); Sn(0.123-0.444); Sr(2.69-4.02); V(0.019-0.095); Zn(99-162). The reference intervals obtained in our study can be used to assess the elemental status of mares bred in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).