In vitro Studies on the effects of soil on elements in ruminal, “duodenal”, and ileal liquors from sheep

Abstract

The effects of soil on the macro- and micro-element composition of ruminal, “duodenal“, and ileal liquors have been determined in in vitro studies. The liquors were collected from fistulated and cannulated sheep fed a soil-free diet of flash-dried pasture while housed indoors. Samples of topsoil from 17 soil types were shaken with samples of the liquors, and soil particles were removed by ultracentrifugation and millipore filtration. Comparison of element concentrations before and after shaking showed that soil produced marked changes, both increases and decreases, in a number of macro- and micro-elements.

In general, for ruminal liquor Mg, Al, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn increased, and Ca and P decreased; for “duodenal“ liquor Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, and Se increased, and P, Cu, and Fe decreased; for ileal liquor Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Se increased, and Ca decreased.

Possible implications of changes in element concentrations in the liquors are discussed. Changes in concentration of Ca, Mg, and Se have been correlated with available amounts of these elements in the soils; changes in P have been correlated with the P-retention values of the soils. It is concluded that the type of soil ingested by an animal, as well as the quantity, may be important in animal nutrition.