4:30 PM - 4:40 PM
[I-18-17] Heavy Metals Concentration of Hay and Crop Residues used as Basal Feed for Dairy Production, Northern Ethiopia
The objective of this study was to evaluate the heavy metals (HMs) concentration of hay and crop residues used as basal feed for dairy production. Samples from natural pasture hay and major crop residues such as Eragrostis tef, Eleusine coracana, Zea mays, Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare straw were collected, dried and grinded for analysis. The concentration of the HMs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In this study, twenty heavy metal elements were detected and quantified in hay and crop residues; and their concentrations value were investigated with respect to the nutrient requirement of the dairy cow. The results revealed that most of the investigated heavy metals were presented in the feed samples except arsenic, selenium, Zirconium, lead, and Barium. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals was in the following order Fe>Al> Zn > Mn> Ni > Ti > Cu > Sr> Ba > Cd > Cr> Rb. The concentrations of Fe, Al and Mn elements were above the requirement of dairy cows and care should be taken when feeding in excess amount of the feed.