Abstract
Sixteen yearling steers were divided into two groups of eight. Group I was wintered outside, while group II was wintered in a barn. Both groups were fed whole-crop barley silage during the winter and turned out to pasture in early spring. Manganese, copper, zinc and selenium concentrations were determined in hair samples from all steers at intervals of 2 wk over a period of 46 wk. No significant differences were found in the trace element contents of hair between the two groups. There was a significant effect of season on hair concentrations of Mn, Cu and Zn, possibly related to the lower concentrations of these elements in barley silage than in pasture grass. Se content was low in both diets. Mn, Cu and Zn levels in the hair decreased during the winter period and increased when the animals were turned out to pasture. Se content of the hair decreased during the experiment, probably as a result of maintaining the animals on a low selenium diet throughout the study. Variation among animals was large, suggesting that caution should be used in attributing low levels of trace minerals in the hair to inadequate dietary supplies.
Published Version
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