Effect of High Dietary Salt Intake on Macro-Mineral Status of Lactating Camels Raised Under Arid Conditions

This study examined the effects of high dietary salt intake on the concentrations of major microminerals (K, Na, P, Mg, and Ca) in the serum and milk of lactating dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Twelve multiparous camels were assigned in a two-period crossover design to receive either a control diet containing 1.5% NaCl (CON) or a salt-supplemented diet containing 4.5% NaCl (T1). Each period lasted 21 days, including 14 days of adaptation and 7 days of sampling. Blood and milk samples were analyzed using inductively coupled serum-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Camels fed the high-salt diet showed lower serum concentrations of Mg and Ca (p < 0.05). Milk concentrations of Mg, K, and Ca increased under high-salt intake (p < 0.05), whereas Na and P decreased. Correlation analysis revealed negative associations between P intake and milk Ca, as well as between milk Ca and serum Mg. While positive associations were observed between K intake and milk Ca, and between Ca and Mg within milk. Principal component analysis further demonstrated distinct clustering of minerals according to dietary treatment. These results highlight the complex regulation of mineral partitioning between serum and milk in camels exposed to saline diets, underscoring their adaptive capacity to arid environments. The findings provide insights for developing mineral supplementation strategies tailored to camel production systems in regions with high dietary salinity.