Effect of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn supplementation on the elemental content of soft tissues and bone in sheep grazing ryegrass/white clover pasture

摘要

Abstract The effects of increasing the intakes (mg/day) of Co (0.18–0.42), Cu (9.3–17.3), Se (0.04–0.12), Mo (0.17–2.17), Zn (40.0–70.4), Fe (207–787), and Mn (105–455) on the concentrations of major and minor elements in some organs, soft tissues, and bones of 72 Romney wethers were measured. The treatment and two control groups were each made up of six sheep. Trace elements were administered daily for 84 days and the sheep grazed as one group on ryegrass/white clover pasture. The animals were then shorn and slaughtered, and some organs, tissue, and bones removed for elemental analyses. A 40% increase in liver Cu occurred when Cu intakes were increased. The Se contents of the liver, kidney, and plasma were increased by over 200% and wool by 23% with increased Se intake. Similarly, increased Mn intakes increased the Mn contents of the liver, kidney, spleen, brain, and pancreas by over 25% and the gut by 260%, and increased Fe intakes increased the Fe contents of the lungs, spleen, and gut by 30, 57, and 7...