The metaphylaxis of renal calculi in form of partial withdrawal of Ca and the nutrition rich in phosphate or NH4C1 in children was disputed and not ascertained by animal experiments. For this purpose growing female dwarf pigs got a semisynthetic ration with 1 g Ca and 23 g P, respectively, or 15 g NH4C1 per kg dry feeding mass during 168 days. The dwarf pigs fed poor in Ca had a reduced increase of body-weight of 30%, the pigs fed rich in P and NH4C1 a reduced increase of body-weight of 11 and 16%, respectively, compared with the control dwarf pigs. The feeding regime chosen has no significant influence on the Ca-, P-, Cu-, and Mn-state of the dwarf pigs (alpha greater than 0.05). Only the animals with deficiency of a Ca statistically ascertained stored more Zn in the liver than the control animals. The applied NH4C1 as well as the medicament Ammonchlor SSW contained traces of Cd. Concerning the lacking significant changes of metabolism on account of the retardation of growth conditioned by therapy it cannot be concluded that there is possible a metaphylaxis of the lithiasis in children by partial withdrawal of Ca or additions of P and NH4C1, respectively.

Lambs received 250, 1000 and 1750 mg Fe per kg concentrate dry matter. The Fe-supplementations caused the Fe-levels of spleen, liver, kidneys and ribs to rise significantly. Liver and spleen reflected most markedly the high Fe-supply. The Fe-supplementation reduced the Cu-content in the liver and the share of Zn in the kidneys. The Mn-content of all body parts analysed was not significantly influenced by Fe-supplementation.

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsB. Groppel(Leiter: Prof. Dr. sc. agr. A. Hennig)

A total of 26 Ni-deficient (less than 100 ppm Ni in the ration) breeding goats and their 30 kids and 24 corresponding control goats with 37 kids were used to investigate, over 6 experimental years, the influence of Ni-deficiency on the reproductive performance until weaning. Following the same arrangement, 7 and 6 mini sows, respectively, and their piglets (71 and 67) were studied. The following statistically secured results were obtained. Ni-deficiency resulted in reduced pregnancy rates (after one insemination) in animals that had revealed clear estrus symptoms. This caused delayed pregnancies and birth of offspring. The conception and abortion rates, the number of offspring and the sex ratio were not influenced significantly by Ni-deficiency. Intra-uterine Ni-deficiency reduced the birth weights and caused lower weight gains during the suckling period. Its influence proved stronger in the kids as compared to the mini piglets. Ni-deficiency caused the mortality of the offspring during the suckling period to increase significantly. The losses in the Ni-deficient kids and mini piglets were by 41 and 51%, respectively, higher than in the corresponding control animals.

Pigs and goats were used in long-term trials to investigate in which way supplements of 100 mug Ni per kg of a semisynthetic diet (control rations: 10 mg Ni per kg of the diet) would influence the rate of weight gains and food consumption and the body composition of the animals. A significant decline in the rate of weight increase was noted in the Ni-deficient animals. Ni-supplements added to the diet (10 mg/kg) increased the weight gains by 21% (goats) and 13% (pigs). In the present trial goats showed a more sensitive response to Ni-deficiency than pigs. Ni-deficiency did not affect the food consumption of neither the growing goats nor the growing pits. It was only during their lactation period that the Ni-deficient goats showed a statistically well-established decrease in food consumption. The level of Ni supply did not affect the crude protein, crude fat and crude ash content of the pigs.

The supply of zinc to ruminants as influenced by and depending upon the geological origin of soils was investigated using the hair test and the technique of indicator plants. A total of 1276 samples of red meadow clover and 3022 samples of red field clover and 4184 hair specimens from cows were analyzed. The following statistically well-established results were obtained which appear to be generalizable: Red meadow clover contained significantly more Zn than red field clover (48 ppm/38 ppm). Red meadow clover and field clover grown on loamy soils (59%), weathered soils of less (59%), red sandstone (57%) basalt (53%), shell limestone (47%) and Keuper (41%) contained only 59%-41% of the amount of Zn found in indicator plants that were grown in locations were the highest Zn level (weathered soils of porphyry). Zn concentrations in red meadow and field clover grown on soils of the same geological origin correlated with r = 0.87. A positive correlation (B = 0.53) was found to exit between the relative proportions of Zn contained in indicator plants grown on a particular soil and the proportions of Zn contained in hair specimens from Zn-deficient cows (less than 100 ppm of Zn). The largest number of hair specimens containing less than 100 ppm of Zn were found in cows from areas with soils of basalt (17%), and loess (18%), areas with loamy soils (24%), and sandy diluvial soils (25%), or with alluvial pastures (23%), or with soils of Keuper (27%), shell limestone (22%) or red sandstone (29%). Ruminants in these areas are liable to suffer from Zn deficiencies.