Element concentrations in livers and kidneys of ranch mink

Reference ranges for element concentrations in livers and kidneys of "healthy" mink of known age, sex, and coat color and fed a conventional diet were determined. After euthanasia and removal of the pelts, liver and kidney samples were collected from 174 mink and analyzed for 22 elements using inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectroscopy. The diet of the mink was also analyzed for element concentrations. Descriptive statistics of element concentrations for livers and kidneys of the mink are given and compared with dietary element concentrations.