To complement studies on diseases of cattle and sheep possibly caused by mineral deficiencies, liver samples collected in several regions of Brazil and which had been analysed for copper and cobalt were now analysed for zinc, manganese and iron. In most regions the levels of zinc were only sporadically low. Only in the States of Ceará and Piauí a greater number of samples had low levels of this mineral, suggesting the occurrence of zinc deficiency, but subclinically, as case histories and clinical pathological studies did not indicate the occurrence of this deficiency. Also the values for manganese were sporadically lower than those considered normal. Only in the States of Rio de Janeiro (southern part), Espírito Santo (northern part), Ceará (Serra da Ibiapaba) and Amapá, there was a greater incidence of low values of manganese; the same reasons mentioned for zinc indicate that deficiency of manganese in these regions occurs subclinically.
Mineral deficiencies; zinc and manganese deficiency; cattle; sheep; Brazil
