Animal Production

Table of Contents - 1987 - Volume 44, Issue 02  

Research Article

Effect of ionophores on the accumulation of copper in the livers of sheep

J. B. J. van Ryssena1 and P. R. Barrowmana1

a1 Department of Animal Science, University of Natal, PO Box 375, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa

Abstract

Lambs were allocated to three treatments: control (C), monensin (M) and lasalocid sodium (L) in a concentrate diet containing 36 mg copper per kg food. After 2 months deaths from copper toxicity occurred and the trial was terminated. All lambs were slaughtered. The mean liver copper concentration (mg/kg dry matter) of 1907 in the M treatment was higher than the mean concentrations of 1342 and 1229 in the C and L groups respectively (P < 0·01). Total liver copper was 234, 260 and 230 mg and the retention of dietary copper in the liver was 93·5, 108·5 and 93·3 g/kg for the C, M and L treatments respectively. These differences were not significant. From reduced liver size (as a proportion of body weight) and high copper levels in the kidneys, it was concluded that the group given monensin had accumulated copper to a level closer to the toxicity threshold than the other two groups.

(Received August 13 1986)

(Accepted October 06 1986)