{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T03:49:48Z","timestamp":1784864988818,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,31]],"date-time":"2025-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753920000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Research and Integrated Demonstration Project on Comprehensive Prevention and Control Technologies for Major Yak Diseases in Ganzi Prefecture and China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA","award":["Beef Cattle\/Yak, CARS-37"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Beef Cattle\/Yak, CARS-37"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Mineral imbalances in livestock can critically impair growth, immunity, and productivity. Yaks inhabiting the Qinghai\u2013Tibetan Plateau face unique environmental challenges, including high-altitude-induced nutrient variability. This study investigated the status of mineral elements and their correlations with altitude in healthy yak calves across five regions in Ganzi Prefecture, located at elevations ranging from 3100 to 4100 m. Hair and serum samples from 35 calves were analyzed for 11 essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, and Se). The results revealed widespread deficiencies. Key deficiencies were identified: hair Na and Co were significantly below references value (p &lt; 0.05), and Se was consistently deficient across all regions, with deficiency rates ranging from 35.73% to 56.57%. Serum Mg and Cu were generally deficient (Mg deficiency &gt; 26% above 3800 m). S, Mn (low detection), and Co were also suboptimal. Serum selenium deficiency was notably severe in lower-altitude areas (\u226459.07%). Significant correlations with altitude were observed: hair sodium levels decreased with increasing altitude (r = \u22120.72), while hair manganese (r = 0.88) and cobalt (r = 0.65) levels increased. Serum magnesium deficiency became more pronounced at higher elevations (r = 0.58), whereas selenium deficiency in serum was more severe at lower altitudes (r = \u22120.61). These findings indicate prevalent multi-element deficiencies in yak calves that are closely linked to altitude and are potentially influenced by soil mineral composition and feeding practices, as suggested by previous studies. The study underscores the urgent need for region-specific nutritional standards and altitude-adapted mineral supplementation strategies to support optimal yak health and development.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12080718","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,5]],"date-time":"2025-08-05T15:56:16Z","timestamp":1754409376000},"page":"718","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Altitude-Linked Distribution Patterns of Serum and Hair Mineral Elements in Healthy Yak Calves from Ganzi Prefecture"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Chenglong","family":"Xia","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yao","family":"Pan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Husbandry Science Institute of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding 626000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jianping","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Husbandry Science Institute of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding 626000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dengzhu","family":"Luorong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Husbandry Science Institute of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding 626000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qingting","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Husbandry Science Institute of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding 626000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhicai","family":"Zuo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yue","family":"Xie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4950-8441","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xiaoping","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lan","family":"Lan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Husbandry Science Institute of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding 626000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3992-3529","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hongrui","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2011.584134","article-title":"Importance of functional ingredients in yak milk-derived food on health of Tibetan nomads living under high-altitude stress: A review","volume":"54","author":"Guo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Crit. 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