Impact of Breeding Region and Season on the Content of Some Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in the Hair of Cows

The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the season and the breeding region on the content of selected minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd) in the hair of dairy cows. The research material covered 114 Holstein-Friesian breed cows from three breeding centres in Poland, hereafterreferred to as A, B and C. Breeding centre A is located in Opolskie province, breeding centre B in Podlaskie province and breeding centre C in Kujawsko-Pomorskie province. The cows were kept in freestanding cowsheds with den boxes. Animal nutrition involved the use of the TMR system, considering division into nutrition groups. Hair was sampled in summer and in the period of winter and spring from the side of the body, directly behind the coastal arch. The Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe analysis was performed with atomic absorption spectrometry. The Pb and Cd content was assayed with the use of the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The results demonstrated the effect of season and breeding region on the level of the minerals and heavy metals assayed in the hair of cows being in the period of drying-off. The hair sampled in winter from cows from C demonstrated a higher concentration of most elements except for Fe than in material derived in summer. Hair sampled in winter from cows from the B centre showed higher Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations as compared with summer. Higher Cu, Mn, Fe and Pb concentrations were determined in hair sampled during winter from cows from A than in the material obtained in summer. The Cd content in the cow hair did not exceed the admissible norm, however, normal levels were exceeded for Pb in hair sampled in winter from cows from breeding centre C.