MINERAL METABOLISM IN IMPORTED DAIRY CATTLE DURING ADAPTATION TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE CENTRAL BLACK EARTH REGION, RUSSIA

Modern technologies in industrial-scale animal husbandry, utilizing contemporary methods of exploiting agricultural animals, require investigating the adaptive capabilities of organisms under these conditions. The acclimatization and adaptation period of imported cows depends on transport stress, climatic conditions, changes in the feed, and other factors. The response of the entire organism and its structures – cells, organs, and tissues – is important for the adequate progression of adaptive processes in animals. Insufficient adaptive capacity leads to decreased productivity, the emergence of various pathological conditions, and the potential death of individuals. Given the significant role of mineral elements in adaptation and the establishment of animal metabolic systems, various indicators of mineral metabolism were studied in imported heifers. Cattle of the Montbéliarde and Jersey breeds were imported from Denmark to the agricultural enterprise Moloko Chernozemya LLC in the Anninsky district of the Voronezh Region, Russia. A total of 15 heifers of each breed were selected for the experiment, with indigenous Holstein heifers (n = 15) serving as the control group. The blood of the animals was analyzed for macro- and trace elements such as P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Se.The Jersey breed was determined to adapt more quickly to new living conditions than the Montbéliarde breed. This is highlighted by values closer to baseline for inorganic phosphorus (2.579 ± 0.037 mM/L), manganese (3.048 ± 0.064 μM/L), iron (26.975 ± 0.245 mM/L), and magnesium (2.210 ± 0.008 mg), which are 4.1%, 3.64%, 12.95%, and 16.6% below the baseline value, respectively. Additionally, zinc (17.888 ± 0.125 μM/L) and copper (15.463 ± 0.183 μM/L) levels are 6.8% and 9.4% above the baseline value, respectively, 30 days after importation. For Montbéliarde heifers, the iron content in the blood was 26.975 ± 0.245 mM/L, inorganic phosphorus – 2.579 ± 0.037 mM/L, manganese – 2.788 ± 0.058 μM/L, magnesium – 2.173 ± 0.007 mg, zinc – 14.563 ± 0.138 μM/L, and copper – 13.438 ± 0.349 μM/L. These data highlight the importance of conducting additional research into the influence of trace element levels on stress formation.