Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 11 (2009): 249 - 253 249 SHORT NOTE [NOTA CORTA] ASSESSMENT OF MACRO-MINERALS STATUS IN SOIL, WATER, FEED RESOURCES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON BLOOD PLASMA OF SHEEP AND GOATS IN CENTRAL MIX CROPPING ZONE OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN [DETERMINACIÓN DEL ESTATUS DE MACRO-MINERALES EN SUELO, AGUA, RECURSOS ALIMENTICIOS Y SU INFLUENCIA SOBRE EL PLASMA SANGUINEO DE OVINOS Y CAPRINOS EN LA ZONA CENTRAL DE COSECHAS MIXTAS DEL PUNJAB, PAKISTAN] Talat N. Pasha*, Muhammad Z. Khan and Umer Farooq Department of Food and Nutrition.University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000, Pakistan. Tel: +92-42-9213528, Fax: +92-42-9211461, E-mail: agrotech@brain.net.pk *Corresponding author SUMMARY This study was undertaken to assess the effects of season, soil, water and feedstuffs on macro-mineral status of blood plasma of sheep and goats in the central mix cropping zone of Punjab, Pakistan. Five sub-locations were selected randomly from the study area. From each sub-location, 20 blood samples were collected each from adult sheep, goats, kids and lambs, both in winter and summer season (5 sub- locations x 20 blood samples x 2 species X 2 age groups x 2 seasons = 800). In addition a total of 90 feedstuff (5 sub-locations x 9 feedstuff samples x 2 seasons = 90), 6 soil (5 sub-locations x 6 soil samples x 2 seasons = 60) and 6 water samples (5 sub-locations x 6 water samples x 2 seasons = 60) were collected form each sub-location in both the seasons. Lower sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels were found in soil and feedstuffs of the area. However, in different sources of water, Na values were nearly within the range but K was slightly higher. This was followed by lower plasma Na concentration both in sheep (114.23 + 10.21 mEq / L) and goats (121.78 + 12.35 mEq / L). However, concentration of K was within the critical limit in sheep (4.05 + 0.40 mEq / L) and goats (5.10 + 12.4 mEq / L). Plasma Na and K in both species showed effects of season, animal class and interaction of season and animal class (P≤0.05). Lower calcium (Ca) concentrations were found in soil, feedstuffs and water. A similar trend was observed in plasma Ca concentration of sheep (3.2 + 0.98 mg / 100ml) and goats (3.4 + 1.26 mg / 100ml) during winter. In contrast, phosphorous (P) was marginally deficient in soil, water and feedstuffs as well as in blood plasma of adult sheep (3.60 + 1.32 mg / 100ml) and goat (3.12 + 2.02 mg / 100ml) during winter. The levels of Ca and P were marginally deficient in summer season in adult animals. Soil magnesium (Mg) values were slightly higher, whereas, water and feedstuffs were deficient. Blood plasma concentration of Mg was higher many fold both in sheep (5.25 + 1.85 mg / 100ml) and goats (4.76 + 1.23 mg / 100ml). However, plasma Mg was affected by season and animal class (P≤0.05).The data were all analyzed using one way ANOVA test and significant differences between means were tested using Duncan’s multiple range test. From these blood analyses, we concluded that macro-mineral levels were significantly different (P≤0.05) in blood plasma of sheep and goats on these areas of Punjab and that animals need supplementation with implication of similar needs for other regions of Pakistan. Key Words: Macro-minerals, sheep and goats, feedstuffs, soil and water INTRODUCTION The essentiality of minerals in animal’s feed can’t be denied as they play crucial role in growth, production, reproduction and normal physiological functions of animal body. However, there is greater degree of uncertainty in the mineral requirements of animals depending upon age, breed, level of production, dietary antagonist, animal adaptation and interrelationship with other nutrients (Engle et al., 2001). In this country, the supply of macro-minerals often comes largely from pasture herbage, hays and straw based diets which are found to be border line to deficient in macro-minerals. Moreover, these are high in silicate, oxalates and tannins which interfere with the utilization of these nutrients (Khan et al., 1999). The macro-mineral status of fodder may be altered by plant species, stage of harvesting, season of the year, fertilization application rate, soil type and soil pH (McDowell, 1997). Most soils of Pakistan are generally alkaline and calcareous which are low in phosphorous (P) and adequate in potassium (K). Furthermore, there is great degree of variation in the Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems