Inter seasonal evaluation of serum sodium and potassium concentration in dairy cattle of Tabriz area

In this study, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 100 dairy cattle of Tabriz area in each season of the year, their sera separated and the concentration of Na and K was determined using the flame photometry method. Results were analyzed by the statistical software program SPSS13. ANOVA was used to compare mean seasonal serum Na and K concentrations. The mean concentration of K was 5.8 ±0.86 mmol/lit and the mean concentration of Na was 146.7±73 mmol/lit. Minimum and maximum K levels were 3 and 7 mmol/lit respectively and these values for Na were 125 and 167 mmol/lit. There was no significant difference between mean K levels in different seasons (p>0.01), and also between mean Na levels at spring and autumn (p>0.01). Based on the Tukey multiple comparisons test, there was a significant difference between mean Na concentrations at summer and winter (p