COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MACRO, MICRO AND TOXIC ELEMENTS IN COW BONES AND HORNS

Bones and horns from slaughtered cattle are often discarded as wastes, yet they contain vital minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. This study evaluates macro (Ca, P, N), micro (K, Mg, Zn, Cu), and toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Cr) in cow bones and horns to assess their potential for agricultural and nutraceutical use. One gram of each sample (except phosphorus, which was 0.5g) was digested. The digestion solutions were analysed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (Flame-AAS), flame photometry, and UV-visible spectroscopy. From the elemental analysis, the result revealed that cow bones had significantly higher Ca (5950 mg/kg) and P (3010 mg/kg) than horns (p < 0.01). Zinc was over 12 times higher in horns when compared to bones (1992 mg/kg vs. 154 mg/kg). Toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Cd) were detected in both samples and their concentration were above WHO/FAO limit, making these biomaterials suitable for most applications except human consumption. These findings support the sustainable reuse of cow bones and horns as nutrient-rich supplements, though heavy metal monitoring is critical.