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. 1980 Mar 1;21(1):62–70. doi: 10.1186/BF03546901

Copper, Zinc and Molybdenum in Livers of Norwegian Cattle At Slaughter

Kobber, sink og molybden i leuer fra norsk storfeslakt.

Arne Frøslie 1,✉, Gunnar Norheim 1, Erling Waasjø 1
PMCID: PMC8317718  PMID: 7386331

Abstract

The concentrations of copper, zinc and molybdenum were measured in samples of cattle liver from 10 slaughter-houses in Norway. A total of 335 samples were analysed. A clear accumulation of copper with age was found, the average copper level in the younger animals (≦ 3 years, n = 194) being 30 µg Cu/g liver wet weight, and in the older ones (> 3 years, n = 141) 59 µg Gu/g. The range in the copper values found was considerable, though significant differences between some of the districts were recorded. Copper concentrations were classified as low (≦10 µg Gu/g) in 9.6 % of the samples. Zinc showed no accumulation with age, nor were there any differences in zinc levels found in animals from different districts, the average level being 32 µg Zn/g liver wet weight. The picture was the same for molybdenum, no differences between age groups or districts being found. The average level was 1.0 µg Mo/g liver. There was no significant correlation between levels of copper, zinc or molybdenum.

The supply of copper and zinc to cattle in Norway seems close to sufficient, but copper- and zinc-fortified mineral supplementation of cattle feed is still to be recommended. There seems to be no need for molybdenum supplementation in cattle.

Keywords: copper, zinc, molybdenum, cattle, liver

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