Effects of a Low Manganese Diet on Certain Ovine Characteristics

Abstract
Four sets of twin ewe lambs were employed in an experiment so that one member of each twin was fed a control purified diet and the other an equal amount of the diet without manganese. By the 12th week of the experiment lambs on the low manganese diet showed clinical symptoms of joint pains, reluctance to move and a tendency to “rabbit hop” when forced. After 22 wk. lambs receiving the low manganese diet exhibited reduced wool manganese levels while control lambs showed increased manganese levels. Control lambs had tibias that were longer, stronger and contained higher ash, calcium and manganese levels. Control lambs also had higher serum alkaline phosphatase values. The heart and liver but not kidney or skeletal muscle of control lambs also had higher manganese levels. Copyright © 1968. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1968 by American Society of Animal Science

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