title: Health and mineral nutrition status of yaks in southern Mustang, Nepal.
abstract: Biochemical values and mineral concentrations in blood plasma were investigated to evaluate the statuses of health and mineral nutrition among yaks in Mustang District, Nepal. In total, 118 plasma samples of female yaks collected in April and September/October of 2013-2015 were offered. Seventy-four percent of yaks showed lower plasma total-cholesterol concentrations than the lowest limit of reference range (100 mg/dL) and the values in spring (83.41 mg/dL) were lower (P < 0.05) than those in autumn (95.05 mg/dL). All the yaks had lower plasma albumin concentrations than the lowest limit of reference range (3.0 g/dL) and 66% of yaks showed lower plasma inorganic phosphorus concentrations than the critical level of phosphorus deficiency (4.5 mg/dL). Thirty-five percent of yaks showed lower plasma calcium concentrations than the lowest limit of normal range (8 mg/dL) and the concentrations were lower in spring than in autumn (P < 0.01). Seventy-five percent of yaks presented lower copper concentrations than the critical level (0.65 mg/L) and the concentrations were lower in spring than in autumn (P < 0.01). Since the low plasma total-cholesterol might have indicated shortage of dry matter and energy intake, attention should be paid to the nutritional statuses of energy, phosphorus, calcium and copper in winter and early spring.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6241-313X
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazato
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.affiliation: Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lumle, Kaski, Nepal.
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood*; D009390:Nepal; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012621:Seasons; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D010710:Phosphates; D012709:Serum Albumin; D003300:Copper; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Mustang; Nepal; plasma biochemical values; plasma mineral concentrations; yaks