[Observations of the liver copper content in sheep in northwest Germany]

Samples of liver tissue from sheep (n = 231), which were send to the Institute on Animal Nutrition, School of Veterinary Sciences Hannover, were analyzed for copper; the results were evaluated in reference to animal's age and race. In tissue of young sheep (up to 4 weeks) the copper concentration was about 250 (56-770) mg/kg dry matter (DM); values < 120 as well as > 300 mg/kg DM were observed in few cases only. From 198 data of adult sheep 28% suggested a copper deficiency (< 50 mg/kg DM), while 21% were the result (> 500 mg/kg DM) of a critically elevated copper intake. Sheep of the typical heath race presented the main part of those affected by copper deficiency; the races merino and Texel dominated in the group with elevated copper concentrations in liver tissue.