Effect of ingestion of soil on the iodine, copper, cobalt (vitamin B12) and selenium status of grazing sheep.
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.
Grace
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AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand. neville.grace@agresearch.co.nz
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
D012987:Soil; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper; D007455:Iodine; D012643:Selenium; D014805:Vitamin B 12