Interbreed differences in iron concentration in cattle organs and tissues

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in iron accumulation in organs and tissues of cattle bred in ecologically robust zones of Western Siberia. The authors presented 486 samples of the muscle, hair, heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen from three breeds of bulls. The authors examined 84 Black Pied, Hereford, and Holstein bulls aged 16–18 months. The Black Pied bulls were bred in the Ubinsky district of the Novosibirsk region, Russia, the Hereford bulls were bred in the Maslyaninsky district of the Novosibirsk region, and the Holstein bulls were bred in the Promyshlensky district of the Kemerovo region, Russia. The authors studied the chemical composition of organs and muscle tissue using atomic absorption spectrometry with flame and electrothermal atomization using an MGA-1000 spectrometer. The median iron concentrations in the muscle, hair, heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen were 16.5–49.1, 22.3–130, 42–70, 56.5–68.3, 39.3–52.2, and 252.2–472 mg/kg, respectively. The authors recorded the highest iron concentration in the spleen, where its concentration was significantly higher than in other organs, regardless of the breed. The breed significantly affected the iron content in muscle tissue, heart, kidneys, hair, and spleen. The iron concentrations in muscle tissue, heart, and spleen were higher in Black Pied cattle, and iron concentrations in hair were lower in Holstein and Hereford cattle. Multivariate statistical methods showed high phenotypic similarity in iron accumulation in organs and tissues between Hereford and Holstein cattle. Animals’ breed and age should be considered when developing regional standards for iron content.