HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hiers, J. M. Articles by Blackmon, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hiers, J. M., Jr. Articles by Blackmon, D. M.

Effect of Dietary Cadmium and Ethylenediaminetetraacetate on Dry Matter Digestibility and Organ Weights in Zinc Deficient and Normal Ruminants¹

Dairy Science Department and School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted with 35 animals to determine whether addition of 350 ppm of cadmium (as CdCl₂) or of 300 ppm of EDTA (as disodium EDTA) affected dry matter digestibility or relative organ weights (as a percentage of body weight) of zinc-deficient calves or goats. In contrast with previous work, zinc-deficient animals had small but significantly lower dry matter digestibilities. Neither EDTA nor cadmium had a consistent or material effect on digestibility of a purified diet. Testicles of zinc-deficient goats were reduced in size. In general, tibiae were somewhat larger in zinc-deficient animals. Livers were larger in deficient goats but not in deficient calves. In some instances, lungs of zinc-deficient animals fed cadmium were larger relative to body size than those in animals given other treatments. Neither EDTA, cadmium, nor the zinc deficiency materially and consistently affected size of kidney, heart, or spleen. The predominant influence of EDTA and cadmium on health, performance, and metabolism of young ruminants does not appear to be through an effect on dry matter digestibility and probably not by gross effects on sizes of the organs studied.

¹ University of Georgia College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Journal Paper no. 67, College Station, Athens. Supported in part by PHS Research Grant no. AM-07367-NTN from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.