title: Effect of ingestion of soil on the iodine, copper, cobalt (vitamin B12) and selenium status of grazing sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of ingestion of soil on the iodine (I), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co; vitamin B12) status of young sheep.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty young sheep were divided into two groups; one group was fed lucerne pellets, while the other group was fed lucerne pellets plus 100 g soil, for 63 days. At the end of the study the animals were blood-sampled, slaughtered, and the liver removed, and concentrations of I, Cu, vitamin B12 and Se were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ingestion of soil significantly increased concentrations of I and vitamin B12 in serum, but had no effect on concentrations of Cu and Se in serum/blood and liver, and vitamin B12 in liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingested soil can be a significant source of I and Co (vitamin B12) for grazing sheep.
authors.affiliation: AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand. neville.grace@agresearch.co.nz
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Grace
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D003035:Cobalt / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011897:Random Allocation; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper; D007455:Iodine; D012643:Selenium; D014805:Vitamin B 12