The effect of low level exposure to dietary cadmium, on cadmium, zinc, copper and iron contents of selected tissues of growing lambs

Abstract

Twenty‐four, 13–14 week pregnant Cheviot ewes were offered either a basal grass cube diet containing 0.3 mg cadmium (Cd) kg⁻¹, or the same diet supplemented with Cd to give dietary Cd contents of 3.4 or 6.4 mg Cd kg⁻¹. Increasing dietary Cd had no effect on numbers of viable offspring or mean birth weight of lambs. After weaning, some of the lambs were maintained on the same diets as their respective dams for approximately 280 days. Increased dietary Cd had no effect on food intake or carcass weight at slaughter. The liver zinc content of lambs consuming the diet with the highest Cd content declined significantly. Increasing the dietary content of Cd decreased the retention of copper by the liver. At slaughter, Cd could not be detected in blood nor in muscle tissues selected to represent prime cuts of edible carcass meat. In contrast, increased dietary Cd resulted in significantly elevated liver and kidney Cd contents.