The Mineral Composition of Bone Marrow, Plasma, Bones and the First Antlers of Farmed Fallow Deer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Young cervids build their skeleton during the growth of their first antlers, which is why this is a period of great demand for minerals. The mineral compositions of bone marrow, plasma, bones, and antlers are good indicators of changes that occur in the metabolism of farmed fallow deer. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of 21 mineral elements (bulk elements: Ca, P, Mg, K, Na; trace elements: Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo; and toxic elements: Be, Al, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Pb, Ni) in the aforementioned tissues. The highest content was characterized by bulk elements whose content increased in bone, bone marrow and antlers according to the following series: Ca > P > Na > Mg > K. The plasma was characterized by a different concentration of individual elements in the order of Na > K > Ca > P > Mg. The analysis of trace and toxic elements indicated that higher levels were recorded in bone tissues (in antlers and then in bones). It is worth emphasizing that the research indicates a negative correlation between Ca and Cd and between Ca and Pb and between P and Pb in tissues. ABSTRACT: An adequate supply of essential nutrients is particularly important during the skeletal growth and development of young deer, especially in males, who build new antlers each year. The aim of the research was to analyze the levels of 21 mineral elements (including the bulk elements: Ca, P, Mg, K, Na; trace elements: Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo; and toxic elements: Be, Al, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Pb, Ni) in the bone marrow, plasma, bones, and first antlers of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral compositions of tissues were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Higher concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Cr, Zn, Se, Al, Ba and Ni were found in bone marrow than in plasma. The highest concentrations of Ca, P and Ba were recorded in fallow deer bone, while the highest concentrations of Mg, K, Na, Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Be, Al, As, Sb, Pb and Ni were found in the antlers. Moreover, the research showed a significant negative relationship between Ca and Cd, and between Ca and Pb, and P and Pb (r(S) = −0.70, r(S) = −0.80, and r(S) = −0.66, respectively; p < 0.05) in the tissues.