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Effect of Excess Dietary Iron as Ferrous Sulfate and Ferric Citrate on Tissue Mineral Composition of Sheep¹

University of Florida,^,4 Gainesville 32601

Abstract

Four replicated weight groups of four wether lambs each, averaging 33.6 kg live weight, initially, were fed individually for a 44-day period. All lambs in each weight group were fed that amount of feed consumed voluntarily by the lamb eating the least. Experimental diets were as follows: basal, basal plus 1,600 ppm iron and 0.28% sulfate as ferrous sulfate, basal plus 1,600 ppm iron as ferric citrate, and basal plus 0.28% supplemental sulfate as sodium sulfate.

Both diets containing excess iron were unpalatable with the ferrous sulfate diet being the least readily consumed. Plasma copper was influenced by treatment (P<.05) with those lambs fed ferrous sulfate or sodium sulfate having lower levels and those fed ferric citrate or the basal diet having higher plasma copper levels. Plasma calcium, phosphorous and magnesium were not influenced by treatment. Feeding 1,600 ppm iron as either ferrous sulfate or ferric citrate resulted in increased iron in kidney, liver and spleen (P<.05). Levels of copper, zinc, magnesium and manganese in tissues were not influenced by treatment. In general, increasing the dietary sulfate concentration as sodium sulfate resulted in tissue mineral concentrations similar to those for the basal diet, indicating that effects of the dietary ferrous sulfate were due primarily to iron.

¹ Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations, Journal Series No. 3815.

² Present address, Maple Leaf Mills Ltd., Toronto, Canada.

³ The authors wish to acknowledge the National Feed Ingredients Association, Des Moines, Iowa and the International Minerals and Chemical Corp., Skokie, Illinois for funds in support of this study; and Pfizer Inc., Terra Haute, Ind. for supplying vitamins A and D. The technical assistance of Sarah M. Miller and Peggy A. Vasse is acknowledged.

⁴ Department of Animal Science.