Spectroscopic Determination of Cobalt and Copper in Grass Pastures in Kabete

Abstract

Abstract Not Available

A study was conducted to determine trace element status of grass pastures commonly grazed by the local community of Kabete, Kenya. Five different species of pasture grasses as identified by the local community and the livestock keepers were collected and voucher specimens deposited at the university of Nairobi herbarium, Upper Kabete campus.This species are: kikuyu grass, rhodes grass, star grass, red oats and napier grass. All the samples were extracted using wet oxidation and trace elements quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. None of the samples collected was observed to have copper levels above or below the normal recommended values (10mg/kg). None of the grass pastures studied was observed to contain cobalt levels above the normal recommended levels(4.2mg/kg) but 45% of all the samples analyzed contained cobalt levels that were below the normal recommended values for optimum livestock production. These results suggest that there is a need to include cobalt as a supplement in the feeding regimen of ruminant livestock in Kabete, Kenya.