Journal of Animal Science, Vol 69, Issue 10 4078-4087, Copyright © 1991 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effects of dietary cadmium chloride throughout gestation on blood and tissue metabolites of primigravid and neonatal dairy cattle

R. M. Smith, L. C. Griel Jr, L. D. Muller, R. M. Leach and D. E. Baker
Dept. of Vet. Sci., Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.

Thirty-six postpubertal Holstein heifers were allocated to three groups and fed the same diet, which differed only in the concentration of Cd: control group (.25 ppm of Cd), low-Cd group (1 ppm of Cd), and high-Cd group (5 ppm of Cd). Cadmium was supplemented to the low-Cd and high-Cd groups using CdCl2. Liver, kidney cortex, and abdominal muscle were biopsied for mineral analysis from one-half of the heifers of each group before Cd supplementation and again from the same animals within 5 d after parturition, 394 d later. Blood, liver, and muscle were collected from each calf within 5 h after birth. In the dam, 5 ppm of dietary Cd caused a 62-, 27-, and 4-fold increase in Cd of the kidney, liver, and muscle, respectively; kidney Zn and Fe increased (76%) and decreased (33%), respectively, whereas the serum Cu was reduced (31%). Liver Cu was reduced to 40 and 17% by dietary Cd of 1 and 5 ppm, respectively, in the dams. Calves from dams consuming 5 ppm of Cd had a 29 and 43% reduction in liver Cu and Zn, respectively. In these same calves, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, and serum Cu were decreased by 17, 18, and 25%, respectively, whereas serum Zn was increased (55%). Serum sodium and potassium were reduced by 4 and 13%, respectively, and blood urea nitrogen was increased by 63% in calves from dams consuming 5 ppm of Cd. Feeding primigravid dairy cattle up to 5 ppm of Cd as CdCl2 throughout gestation did not influence the concentration of Cd in the neonate but caused reductions in liver Cu and Zn; teratogenesis was not apparent.