The concentration of selected minerals and phytate in Malaysian Brachiaria decumbens.
Samples of Brachiaria decumbens collected from 5 farms representing the Peninsular Malaysia were subjected to selected trace mineral and phytate analyses to explain the pathogenesis of B decumbens intoxication. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mo were comparable to other grasses while that of phytate was low. The molar ratios of Cu:Zn, Cu:Mo, and Cu:Fe warrant that Cu deficiency is involved in the toxicity of B decumbens. This might aggravate the development of photosensitization of unpigmented or lightly pigmented areas of affected animals. The Zn:phytate ratio could predispose to Zn deficiency during intoxication.
Noordin
M M
MM
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor.
Zhang
S S
SS
Rahman
S O
SO
Haron
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008296:Malaysia; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000032:analysis; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D008903:Minerals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003300:Copper; D010833:Phytic Acid; D008982:Molybdenum; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc