| dc.description.abstract | There are over 12 million domestic yaks in de republic of China. They are kept for al lot of different purposes and that is why they are very important for the people that live outside the cities high up in de mountains. Before it is possible to improve the health status and the production of the yak, it is required to know more about the yak. This research described in this paper was done to determine the mineral status of the yak. Furthermore, the mineral status of the soil and fodder was determined. The samples are taken during the summer of 2017 from six different places in the Tibetan highlands (Qinghai province). The soil and feed samples are analyzed by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The blood serum sample are analyzed by the local hospital using a “Beckham coulter chemistry analyzer AU5800”. The mineral concentration in the serum was between the 2.50 and 2.61 mmol/L calcium, 21.61 and 29.73 mol/L iron, 4.88 and 5.15 mmol/L potassium, 0.85 and 1.13 mmol/L magnesium and 137.8 and 142.9 mmol/L sodium. For iron, magnesium and sodium, there was a significant difference between the sample places. The minerals in the soil and feed samples have also been determined, but they were much higher than expected, so the calibration of de AAS was probably not right. This means these results are considered not reliable and further research is required. Compared to previous research the calcium and magnesium concentration in the serum were in the same range. The iron concentration was much lower, but compared to the iron concentration in ruminants serum, there was no deficiency. Lastly the sodium serum concentration was much higher compared to other research. In the end this research has led to a better understanding of the mineral status of the yak, but for the mineral status of the soil and fodder more research is needed. | |
