Abstract

Serum biochemical parameters are used for the healthy and diseases status in equines. Interpretation is based on breed of horse, age group and some limits of physiological blood parameters. Determination of serum macro-mineral concentrations and their interrelationships based on spices, gender and age variations in Urmia equines, Iran. Ten ml jugular blood was prepared from 78 Kurdish horses and 22 indigenous mules aged up to 21 years old. Serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and chloride was evaluated by current laboratory methods. The mineral concentrations between mules and horses statistically were not significant. With the exception of phosphorus and sodium, the mean concentrations in stallions were greater than in mares, but only calcium concentration in mares were lower than in stallions (P<0.01). The lowest concentrations for minerals were in equines from 7 to 21years old except for magnesium which was 1-6 years old. The age differences for minerals were not significant except for magnesium which were close to significant difference (P<0.07). There were correlations between minerals mainly calcium/magnesium, sodium/chloride, potassium/chloride concentrations. The correlations between calcium/magnesium, sodium /chloride were stronger and higher than others. The concentration of minerals in Urmia equines was normal and not influence by species, gender and age, except for calcium which was low in mares at upper ages and magnesium in lower ages. The correlations among minerals reveal their close cooperation in the physiology of equine body. Therefore, Urmia equines did not show mineral deficiency, but adult mares were probably susceptible to calcium deficiency and magnesium in lower ages.