Disturbances of the mineral incorporation in various species of mice and shrews in the emission area of a phosphate plant.

The Cd emission of a phosphate plant was clearly reflected by the Cd status of herbivorous European wood mice and common field voles as well as of European shrews taking in mostly animal food. The antagonistic effect of the emitted Cd and Mo better available for plants with high ground pH most probably caused the deterioration in the Cu status of the animals of both phases in the nutritional chain. The lower Ca, P, and Mg incorporation with European wood mouse and common field vole within the contaminated habitat might as well be owing to emission, whereas the lower Mn content in all three species rather has to be attributed to the lower Mn offer caused by the ground pH.

Trace element intake (zinc, manganese, copper, molybdenum, iodine and nickel) of humans in Thuringia and Brandenburg of the Fed. Rep. of Germany.

The daily dry matter intake of 56 test persons between 20 and 60 years of age from four geographic groups (Wusterhausen and Vetschau in Brandenburg; Jena and Bad Langensalza in Thuringia) was registered on 7 consecutive days by means of the duplicate method. The Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, I and Ni content of food and beverage dry matter and the daily intake of these trace elements were determined. During the test period, the ration contained 24-29 mg zinc, 6.8-9.2 mg manganese, 1.9-2.6 mg copper, 0.17-0.22 mg molybdenum, 0.10-0.18 mg iodine and 0.36-0.68 mg nickel per kg dry matter. The adults consumed 6.7-11.0 mg zinc, 2.0-3.8 mg manganese, 0.54-0.92 mg copper, 47-89 micrograms molybdenum, 30-67 micrograms iodine and 111-256 micrograms nickel per day. The living area had an effect on the Mn, I and Ni intake. The higher dry matter intake resulted in a better trace element supply of male test persons. The copper, molybdenum and iodine requirement recommended by the WHO was not met.

The effect of selenium deficiency on reproduction and milk performance of goats.

Even with a high vitamin E offer, Se deficiency (less than 38 micrograms/kg DM of the ration) led to a 33% lower conception rate (P less than 0.05) in goats and to a greater than 50% lower number of kids on the 91st day of life. The Se deficiency reduced the milk production significantly by 23% during the first 56 days of lactation, the milk fat production by 11% and the milk protein production by 12%.

The influence of sulphur, molybdenum and cadmium exposure on the growth of goat, cattle and pig.

In growing billy goats, bulls and heifers, the supplementation of 10 g elementary S/kg ration dry matter reduced the daily weight gain by about 15%. The offer of 10 g S and 10 mg Mo/kg ration did not intensify growth depression. It occurred, however, when 10 g S were applied together with 3 mg Cd. Under these conditions, fattening bulls gained 19% less weight. The monogastric pig reacted less sensitively to the same exposure. The growth depression only reached about 10% and remained insignificantly. On the other hand, pigs with 10 g S and 3 mg Cd gained 17% less weight (p less than 0.05). The supplementation of 20 g elementary S/kg reduced their growth dramatically. These pigs only gained 89 g weight per day. The effect of S (and Mo or Cd) supplementation was mainly due to decreased feed consumption.