Selenium and copper status of camels in Al-Jouf area (Saudi Arabia)

In order to understand the changes in copper and selenium status in camel dam and calf around the calving period, blood samples were collected in 26 she-camel before delivery and after as well as their calves after birth. The mean values for the mother and their newborn were respectively 70.3 +/- 19.8 and 58.6 +/- 13.9 mu g/100 ml for copper, 5.3 +/- 3.7 and 4.6 +/- 1.7 mu g/100 ml for selenium. No change was observed for copper, but selenium increased after parturition in 81% of the case. The selenium status of camel calf was correlated with those of its mother, but not the copper. As the whole the correlation between selenium and copper was significantly positive. The selenium status was improved in camel receiving diet enriched with barley. The maternal transfer to milk has to be investigated.