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Copper, Zinc and Molybdenum in Livers of Norwegian Cattle At Slaughter

Kobber, sink og molybden i leuer fra norsk storfeslakt.

Abstract

The concentrations of copper, zinc and molybdenum were measured in samples of cattle liver from 10 slaughter-houses in Norway. A total of 335 samples were analysed. A clear accumulation of copper with age was found, the average copper level in the younger animals ( 3 years, n = 194) being 30 µg Cu/g liver wet weight, and in the older ones (> 3 years, n = 141) 59 µg Gu/g. The range in the copper values found was considerable, though significant differences between some of the districts were recorded. Copper concentrations were classified as low (10 µg Gu/g) in 9.6 % of the samples. Zinc showed no accumulation with age, nor were there any differences in zinc levels found in animals from different districts, the average level being 32 µg Zn/g liver wet weight. The picture was the same for molybdenum, no differences between age groups or districts being found. The average level was 1.0 µg Mo/g liver. There was no significant correlation between levels of copper, zinc or molybdenum.

The supply of copper and zinc to cattle in Norway seems close to sufficient, but copper- and zinc-fortified mineral supplementation of cattle feed is still to be recommended. There seems to be no need for molybdenum supplementation in cattle.

Sammendrag

Det ble samlet i alt 335 leverprøver fra storfe ved 10 forskjellige slakterier i Norge. Dyrenes alder ble anslått ved kjøttkontrollen. Alle prøvene ble analysert med hensyn på kobber og sink. Molybdeninnholdet ble bestemt i 69 prøver. For alle distriktene ble det påvist en klar kobberakkumulering med alderen. Gjennomsnittsnivået for unge dyr ( 3 år, n = 194) var 3ø µg Cu/g lever våtvekt, mens det for eldre dyr (> 3 år, n = 141) var 59µg Cu/g lever. Det var en betydelig spredning i kobbernivåene i leverprøvene fra de forskjellige slakteriene. For unge dyr slaktet i Bodø og Stavanger var alikevel kobbernivåene signifikant lavere enn i unge dyr slaktet ved andre slakterier. I 9,6 % av prøvene må kobbernivåene klassifiseres som lave ( 10 µg Gu/g). For sink ble det ikke funnet noen akkumulering med alderen. Det ble heller ikke funnet noen forskjeller i sinknivået i prøvene fra de forskjellige distriktene. Det gjennomsnittlige sinknivået var 32 µg Zn/g lever våtvekt. Heller ikke for molybden ble det funnet noen aldersakkumulering eller noen forskjeller mellom distriktene. Det gjennomsnittlige molybdennivået var 1,0 µg Mo/g lever. Det ble ikke funnet noen korrelasjon mellom konsentrasjonene av kobber, sink eller molybden i prøvene.

Tilskuddet av kobber og sink til storfe i Norge er nær opp til behovet, men det må fortsatt anbefales å bruke mineralblandinger tilsatt kobber og sink. Det synes ikke å være noe behov for tilskudd av molybden til storfe.

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Frøslie, A., Norheim, G. & Waasjø, E. Copper, Zinc and Molybdenum in Livers of Norwegian Cattle At Slaughter. Acta Vet Scand 21, 62–70 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546901

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