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The concentration of minerals in the blood of genetically diverse groups of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Gerald Wiener ,
A. C. Field  and
G. M. Jolly
Gerald Wiener
Affiliation:
A.R.C. Animal Breeding Research Organisation, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
A. C. Field
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institue, Gilmerton, Edinburgh EH17 7JH
G. M. Jolly
Affiliation:
A.R.C. Unit of Statistice, Edinburgh EH8 9LN
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Summary

Changes in the concentration of copper in the blood of 241 adult ewes bled 4 times over a 12-month period (and 332 ewes over a shorter period) were analysed to examine sources of variation in the changes. Breed, age and swayback history were the most significant of the factors associated with both the amount and rate of decline in copper level from summer through autumn to winter. The number of lambs born, age of ewe, and swayback history were the most significant factors associated with the increase in levels from winter to the following summer.

There was a tendency for the classes of sheep with the relatively higher concentrations of copper in their blood to show less seasonal fluctuation in those levels than classes of sheep with relatively lower concentrations of copper.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , December 1970 , pp. 489 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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References

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