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To evaluate the influence of breed on the accumulation of dietary copper (Cu) in tissue, and on blood parameters indicative of Cu status, ten Galician Blond, nine Holstein-Friesian and ten Galician Blond x Holstein-Friesian cross (GB x HF) steers were fed diets supplemented with 35 mg/kg DM of CuSO4 during their growing and finishing periods. Blood samples were taken monthly, and samples of liver, kidney, brain, heart, spleen and muscle were taken at slaughter. Cu concentrations were determined by ICP-AES. Holstein-Friesian calves had significantly higher total liver Cu contents than Galician Blonds and GB x HF crosses (mean 1070, 663 and 868 mg, respectively), combined with higher hepatic Cu concentrations (174, 140 and 166 mg/kg wet weight, respectively). Holstein-Friesian calves had also the highest prevalence (89%) of hepatic Cu concentrations exceeding the toxic limit of 150 mg/kg wet weight. Breed did not have a statistically significant influence on blood parameters. With the exception of the semitendinosus muscle, where Holstein-Friesians (0.790 mg/kg) had significantly higher Cu levels than Galician Blonds (0.541 mg/kg) or GB x HF crosses (0.631 mg/kg), no other statistically significant differences by breed in the extrahepatic tissue Cu distribution were observed. A negative statistical association between carcass performance and the ratio of semitendinosus and liver Cu concentration could indicate that the animals with a better carcass performance (Galician Blonds) could need a higher Cu mobilisation into the muscle, resulting in a lower hepatic storage.

This study investigated the effects of malate supplementation on blood acid-base balance and serum lactate levels in a 137-day feedlot experiment with bull calves. Animals were allotted to one of two experimental groups: (1) A control group (no supplementation), and (2) a group receiving a salt of DL-malic acid. Blood pH, pCO2, HCO3-, base excess, serum L-lactate and productivity parameters were evaluated. Our data reveal that under the conditions of the present experiment malate supplementation did not have any significant effect on productivity parameters by comparison with non-supplemented animals. As regards acid-base balance, no significant effects attributable only to malate were observed. In conclusion, the time-course and the overall means of serum L-lactate for both groups in both growing and finishing periods (0.44 +/- 0.04 mmol/l and 0.39 +/- 0.02 mmol/l, respectively, for control animal; and 0.54 +/- 0.03 mmol/l and 0.49 +/- 0.01 mmol/l, respectively, for supplemented animals) suggests that malate does not have any beneficial effects in animals fed a diet of similar characteristics to that given in this study.

The aims of the study were to evaluate toxic and essential metal concentrations in meat and offal from pigs in north-west Spain to compare these with reported metal concentrations in pigs in other countries and in cattle in this region, and to relate the observed concentrations to maximum acceptable concentrations. Samples from 63 pigs aged 6 months were randomly collected at slaughter. After acid digestion, levels of metals were determined by ICP-OES and ICP-MS. As regards the toxic metals, mean concentrations in liver, kidney and muscle were 0.073, 0.308 and 0.009 mg kg(-1) fresh weight for cadmium, 0.004, 0.008 and 0.003 mg kg(-1) for lead, 0.013, 0.011 and 0.003 mg kg(-1) for arsenic, and 0.001, 0.002 and 0.001 mg kg(-1) for mercury. These concentrations can be considered low, and in general similar to those reported in similar studies in recent years. In addition, maximum admissible concentrations established by the European Union were not exceeded in any sample. As regards the essential metals, concentrations in liver, kidney and muscle were 14.9, 5.63 and 6.85 mg kg(-1) for copper, 81.3, 28.9 and 42.5 mg kg(-1) for zinc, 195, 51.6 and 26.5 mg kg(-1) for iron; 1.17, 2.51 and 0.656 mg kg(-1) for selenium, 3.32, 1.56 and 1.01 mg kg(-1) for manganese, 0.023, 0.027 and 0.003 mg kg(-1) for cobalt, 0.120, 0.077 and 0.131 mg kg(-1) for chromium, 0.009, 0.027 and 0.026 mg kg(-1) for nickel, and 1.62, 0.683 and 0.140 mg kg(-1) for molybdenum. These concentrations are all within the accepted adequate-safe ranges for this animal species, and in general are in line with those previously reported in the literature.

In Galicia, Spain, liver copper concentrations, muscle zinc concentrations and kidney cadmium concentrations (in adult cattle) can exceed acceptable maximum concentrations which have been adopted by some countries. The aim was to calculate the contribution of cattle products to the daily intake of trace and toxic metals by humans in Galicia and to evaluate whether there was any health risk to consumers. This was done by comparing calculated intakes with published acceptable daily intake rates for toxic elements and with the accepted safe ranges for population mean intakes of the essential metals. Typically, the contribution of cattle meat and offal to the daily cadmium, lead and arsenic intake of people in Galicia was minimal because offal is rarely eaten. However, liver from older cattle, especially animals from relatively contaminated areas, could pose a health risk if offal was consumed in substantial quantities. Muscle and liver from Galician cattle that exceeded acceptable maximum concentrations for copper and zinc did not pose a risk to human health.

The aims of this study were to determine the levels of some toxic and trace metals in cattle meat in Spain and to compare them with concentrations in cattle elsewhere and to maximum acceptable levels. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc concentrations in the liver, kidney and muscle (meat) from 438 calves (6-10 months old) and 56 cows (2-16 years old) slaughtered in Galicia (NW Spain) in 1996 were quantified. The arithmetic mean fresh weight concentrations in calf liver, kidney and muscle respectively were 0.043, 0.055, 0.004 mg/kg for arsenic, 0.032, 0.070, 0.001 mg/kg for cadmium, 0.053, 0.052, 0.009 mg/kg for lead, 64.6, 4.91, 0.677 mg/kg for copper and 47.7, 14.4, 47.8 mg/kg for zinc. In cows, these concentrations were 0.046, 0.068, 0.005 mg/kg (arsenic), 0.097, 0.458, 0.001 mg/kg (cadmium), 0.057, 0.066, 0.017 mg/kg (lead), 60.3, 3.67, 1.26 mg/kg (copper) and 59.8, 20.0, 52.7 mg/kg (zinc). Except for copper levels in the liver which were high, metal concentrations in cattle were generally low in Galicia and broadly similar to those in the rest of Europe, Australia and Canada. Arsenic, cadmium and lead concentrations in Galician cattle rarely exceeded acceptable maximum concentrations that have been adopted by many countries. Copper and zinc concentrations in Galician cattle did exceed acceptable maximum concentrations but the frequency with which this occurred depended upon which acceptable maximum concentration was used; regulatory values differ markedly between countries.