Cadmium and lead accumulation in cattle in NW Spain

This study investigated if differences in nutritional management (linked to feed composition and feed intake) could determine differences in the toxic metal accumulations in beef and dairy cattle in NW Spain. Cadmium and lead concentrations were determined in the liver. kidney and muscle of 57 cows (3-16 y-o) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Dairy cattle accumulated significantly higher cadmium and lead residues in liver (51.6 and 43.7 mug/kg fresh weight) than did beef cattle (35.7 and 14.7 mug/kg). In the kidney and muscle, cadmium and lead residues were dairy cattle could be related not on to higher dietary intake, but also similar in both dairy and beef cattle. The higher metal accumulations in the liver of clair to the higher hepatic metabolism associated with milk production.