[Trace elements in the liver and myocardium of stillborn dairy calves]

Trace element analyses were performed on the livers of 52 and the heart muscle of 19 stillborn dairy calves. All calves originated from one herd and ranged in age from 260 days of gestation up to one day old. In the liver the trace element concentrations (mg/kg fresh weight) were as follows: Fe: 181.3 +/- 173.5; Zn: 74.6 +/- 37.7; Cu: 98.1 +/- 42.6; Mn: 1.4 +/- 0.36 and in the heart: Fe: 54.1 +/- 10.6; Zn: 16.3 +/- 3.8; Cu: 2.5 +/- 0.99; Mn: 0.42 +/- 0.07. Calves from heifers had lower Cu values. The relationship between trace element concentration and content and liver and heart weight is discussed, as are aspects of bioavailability and storage mechanisms as well as clinical signs of trace metal deficiencies.