Essential elements and heavy metal concentrations in a small area of the Castlecomer Plateau, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland: Implications for animal performance.

Many ruminants are solely or mostly dependant for their nutrients, including essential elements, on the forage available to them, either in its natural state or conserved as hay or silage. A soil and herbage survey was carried out in April and September 2007, in a 3.1 kmX3.0 km grid, incorporating 106 and 46 sampling points, respectively, on the Castlecomer Plateau, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. The aim was to determine the nutrient and heavy metal status of soil and herbage in the sampling area, and to examine the concentrations observed for their potential to impact on animal performance. Low soil pH and high soil lime requirements were identified within the sampling area. The con- centrations of Ca, Cu, Se and Zn were low in both soil and herbage. These conditions are similar to those found on other farms in Ireland. Fluoride was detected in 61 of the 97 herbage samples in April 2007, but only four exceeded 40 mg/kg dry matter, the maximum tolerable level for cattle. Mineral imbalances (Ca, Cu, Se and Zn) observed in pastures caused by low soil mineral status, exacerbated by low soil pH, could impair animal performance in the area studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]