“Iron levels in the serum of local and Shammi breeds of goats on pasture in AL-Yousifiya South of Baghdad .”

Abstract

Estimation of Iron level in the serum of (134 ) samples of blood collected from local and shammi goats was made while grazing on pasture at AL-Yousifiya district , South of Baghdad, to study the effect of breed , gender and physiological state . Iron level was measured by using Atomic Absorption method. Results showed that the mean of iron in the local goats (males & females) was 0.98 µg/ml ,and in shammi goats (males & females) was 0.99 µg/ml. However in males of both breeds was 1 µg/ml ,and in females of both breeds was 0.9 µg/ml. While the mean of iron in pregnant female goats was 0.96 µg/ml , and the mean in non–pregnant female goats was 0.99 µg/ml. The results also showed iron deficiency in the goats grazing on pastures of AL-Yousifiya , especially pregnant females of both breeds . Statistical analysis showed that there was no effect of breed and gender on the level of iron in different groups .