Measurement and correlation of liver, kidney and plasma copper concentrations and haemoglobin in holstein cattle

Abstract

Haemoglobin, liver, kidney and plasma copper concentrations were measured in 40 Holstein cattle (20 bulls and 20 non-pregnant cows) aged, between 3 to 4 years in Fars Industrial Meat Complex. The mean copper levels as measured by atomic absorption flame spectrophotometry in liver, kidney and plasma were 57.97, 7.04 and 1 ppm, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two sexes (P>0.05). There was a low correlation (r= 0.19, P<0.05) between liver and plasma copper concentration. The correlation between the copper concentration of plasma and kidney was (r = 0.20, P<0.05). Although there was a significant correlation between haemoglobin and plasma copper concentration it could, not be explained. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.