Breed differences in sheep with respect to the interaction between zinc and the accumulation of copper in the liver

Abstract

In sheep the effects of Zn-supplementation on the Cu-accumulation in the liver were studied. At a relatively high Cu-level in the feed, dietary Zn reduced the hepatic Cu-level in the Texel breed and in the crossbreed Texel x Friesian milksheep, but not in the Friesian milksheep breed. On account of this result it can be concluded that in sheep the mutual interaction between Cu and Zn may be dependent on genetic factors.