At present, domestic and wild animals are being exposed to various substances and energies which are foreign to the habitat in which they live. Pollutants from anthropogenic activities enter into the livestock production systems and then ultimately into the food chain. Many heavy metals accumulate in one or more of the body organs in food animals and are transmitted through food chain, causing serious public health hazard. Heavy metal pollution in Zamfara has become a serious health concern following the identification of acute mass lead poisoning crises in north-western Nigerian state, in which over 10,000 people were estimated to have been affected. Studies in the area have implicated a few other metals in the environmental media. Current levels of Cadmium, Chromium, and Copper in forage grasses grazed freely by livestock in five natural pastures in Dareta village were examined in this study. A range of 0.37 - 0.96mg/kg, 3.48 -22.75mg/kg and 1.89 - 240.30mg/kg was recorded for Cadmium, Chromium and Copper respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between metals under study suggesting same source is responsible for the present of these metals at the concentrations determined. Except cadmium, there was statistically significant difference in metal concentrations across the sampling stations (Anova, P < 0.05). The implications of these findings to livestock and public health are fully discussed.
