The state of bioelements in the hair of free-ranging European bisons from Bialowie a Primeval Forest.

Human or animal hair is considered to be a good indicator of the content of bioelements or toxic elements in human and animal organism. Its analysis is a good alternative for the arduous obtaining blood or biopsy samples. The aim of the performed research was the assessment of some chosen bioelements in the organism of European bison on the basis of their analysis in hair. The investigation material comprised hair samples obtained from 22 animals. All animals were divided into groups according to gender (males, females) and age (calves up to one year of age and animals older than 2 years). Samples were mineralized in nitric acid, under pressure in the microwave apparatus. The content of phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium, iron, titanium and vanadium were determined in hair samples. The content of these elements was determined using the ICP-AES method in accredited laboratory. The accuracy of determinations was tested using the standard reference material. The mean content of phosphorus in hair amounted to 245.14 mg x kg(-1), SD 65.00, magnesium 97.32 mg x kg(-1), SD 33.16, iron 119.48 mg x kg(-1), SD 83.31 and titanium 2.368 mg x kg(-1), SD 2.097. In case of these elements, differences depending on gender and age were statistically insignificant. Mean content of sulphur in the European bison hair amounted to 3.41% with equalized content in the herd (SD 0.22%). Here also statistically insignificant differences depending on gender were observed. However, a statistically significant difference (p < or = 0,05) was demonstrated which depended on animal age. Mature European bisons had more sulphur in hair as compared to calves. The concentration of vanadium (0.362 mg x kg(-1), SD 0.396 on the average) significantly differed in hair depending on the European bison age with much higher values in adult animals (calves 0.260 mg x kg(-1), animals older than 2 years 0.686 mg x kg(-1)). Similar data were obtained while investigating hair of sea mammals.

The cadmium status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area.

The Cd status of animals is best reflected by kidneys and much worse by liver and hair. Breed (heavy- and warm-blooded horses) only took an insignificant effect on the Cd content of kidneys and liver. On the average, however, warm-blooded horses stored more Cd than heavy ones. Geldings from Cd-exposed living areas accumulated insignificantly more Cd in liver, kidneys and hair than mares. The influence of age on the Cd content of kidneys and liver of Cd-exposed horses was significant. The Cd exposure of a living area was very well reflected by kidneys and liver. On the average, horses from two areas with nonferrous metal smelting stored 1000 mg Cd/kg kidney dry matter and 100 to 200 mg Cd/kg liver dry matter. The highest Cd concentration of the kidneys of horses amounted to 2.6 and 2.3 g/kg dry matter, resp.

The lead status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area.

The breed of horses took a significant effect on the Pb content of animals with a normal Pb supply. Warm-blooded horses stored more Pb in skeleton, kidneys, liver and cerebrum than heavy horses. The sex only had the trend of influencing the Pb status. Mares with a normal Pb supply incorporated more Pb than geldings. Age only took a slight effect on the skeleton. Older horses stored more Pb in the metatarsal bone than younger ones. The Pb content of horse meat was not influenced by Pb exposure. Pb was not additionally deposited in the musculature. The Pb offer of the living area took a significant effect on the Pb status of horses. Skeleton, liver and kidneys indicated the site-specific influences significantly.

The effect of selenium deficiency on the feed consumption and growth of goats.

The feed consumption of goats was only reduced after considerable Se depletion. The conversion of Se-depleted animals to an Se-rich ration increased feed consumption within one day. An intrauterine Se deficiency (less than 38 micrograms Se/kg DM of the ration) did not induce intrauterine growth depression in kids. Se depletion led to a highly significant postnatal growth depression which increased with advancing Se depletion both during the lactation period and after weaning.

[Iron, manganese and cobalt levels in soil, pasture grass and bodies of young bulls after irrigation of the soil with waste water]. / Poziom zelaza, manganu i kobaltu w glebie, roslinnosci lakowej oraz organizmie buhajków przy nawadnianiu gleby wodami sciekowymi.

The effect of irrigation of meadows with the water of the river. Ner on the levels of iron, manganese and cobalt in the soil and vegetation was studied. Experiments were also carried out on 30 young bulls fed with the hay grown on these meadows. The levels of iron and cobalt were determined in the blood plasma, and the manganese level in the hair of the bulls. The experiments were carried out twice during 93 days. The animals were divided into 3 groups. Group I and II received the hay from the irrigated meadows (group II received the hay from the meadows more intensively irrigated). Group III (control) received hay from non-irrigated meadows. The daily diet consisted of 5 kg of hay and 3 kg of dried sugar beet residues. It was found that the irrigation caused an increase of iron content of the soil and the vegetation. This increase was proportional to the degree of irrigation. The iron level in the blood plasma of the bulls from group I, II and III did not show significant differences. The irrigation caused an increase of the manganese content the soil but the plants growing on this soil contained less manganese than those growing on non-irrigated meadows. There were no differences between the manganese content of the hair of the bulls from the three groups. The irrigation caused an increase of the cobalt content in the soil but it had no effect on cobalt content in the plants and the blood plasma of the bulls.

[Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels in the soil, grass and the body of bulls after irrigation of the soil with sewage water]. / Poziom wapnia, fosforu i magnezu w glebie, roslinnosci lakowej oraz organizmie buhajków przy nawadnianiu gleby wodami sciekowymi.

The aim of the studies was determination of the influence of irrigation with the water of the river Ner on the content of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in soil, plants and organism of bulls fed on the hay grown on the irrigated soil. The soil irrigated with waste water, its vegetation and 30 bulls of the Black and White breed used in this experiment. The bulls were divided into three groups. The experiment was repeated twice and lasted 93 days each time. The animals from group I and II were given the hay from the meadows irrigated with waste water. The second group of bulls received the hay from the soil which was irrigated more intensively. The animals from group III received the hay from non-irrigated soils. The daily ration of food consisted of 5 kilograms of hay and 3 kilograms of dry beet pulp. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were found in the soil, in hay and in the bulls blood serum. Magnesium was found in the bull's hair. The irrigation with the Ner's water increased the amount of calcium and magnesium in the soil and its vegetation. No influence of the irrigation with waste water on the content of phosphorus in hay was observed. No definite relationship between the levels of Ca, P and Mg in food and in the bull's blood serum was observed; however, a relation between the amount of magnesium in food and in the bull's hair was found.

[Sodium and potassium levels in the soil, grass and blood serum of bulls after irrigation of the soil with sewage water]. / Poziom sodu i potasu w glebie, roslinnosci lakowej oraz surowicy krwi buhajków przy nawadnianiu gleby wodami sciekowymi.

The main purpose of the studies was to find the influence of a long-term irrigation with the water of the Ner river, containing sewage on the content of sodium and potassium in soil, its vegetation and in the blood serum of the bulls fed on the hay from the meadows irrigated with this water. The soil irrigated with drain water and its vegetation were analysed and the bulls of the Black and White breed fed on the hay from the irrigated meadows were examined carefully. There were 30 bulla tested. Their initial average weight was 250 kilograms. The experiment was repeated twice. It lasted 93 days each time. The animals were divided into three groups. The animals from group 1 and 2 received the hay from the meadow irrigated with drain water. The animals from group 2 were fed on the hay from the meadow with a higher dose of irrigation. The animals from the third group were given the hay from the meadows which were not irrigated. The daily ration of food consisted of 5 kilograms of hay and 3 kilograms of dry beet pulp. The available forms of Na2O and K2O were determined in the soil on a flame photometer. Sodium and potassium in the samples of plants were determined using the atomic absorptive spectrophotometry method (AAS). Botanical and weight analyses were also done. Blood samples were taken once a month. Sodium and potassium in blood serum were determined by AAS method. The amount of sodium in the soil and hay on the meadows irrigated with drain water was significantly higher, and the amount of potassium was lower in comparison with the amount of sodium and potassium in the soil and hay on non-irrigated meadows. The content of sodium increased with the increase of the irrigation rate. According to the experimental fodder no changes were observed in the bulls' blood serum as regards the amount of sodium and potassium.

[Studies of the levels of copper and zinc in the soil, grass and blood serum and hair of bulls from the areas irrigated with waste water from the Ner River]. / Badania nad poziomem miedzi i cynku w glebie, roslinnosci oraz w surowicy krwi i siersci buhajków przy nawadnianiu gleby sciekami rzeki Ner.

The effect of irrigation with waste water on the levels of copper and zinc in the soil, vegetation and the blood plasma as well as on the hair of animals receiving hay from the irrigated meadows was studied. Irrigation with the Ner river water increased the copper content of the soil ten times. (1.7-2.2 ppm Cu in the non-irrigated soil and 18.1-22.7 ppm Cu in the irrigated soil). The increase in the zinc content of the soil was even more pronounced (3-5 ppm Zn in the non-irrigated soil and 156-209 ppm Zn in the irrigated soil). The plants growing on the irrigated soil contained increased amounts of copper and zinc. The copper content of the hay grown on the irrigated soil had no effect on the copper level in the organisms of young bulls receiving this hay. The zinc level in the blood plasma of the bulls was higher than normal, but the zinc level in the hair did not depend on the zinc content of the fodder.