EFFECTS OF NITRILOTRIACETIC ACID ON APPARENT ABSORPTION AND DUODENAL FLOW OF MANGANESE, IRON, ZINC AND COPPER IN SHEEP

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Abstract
A latin square design was used with four sheep, each equipped with a rumen fistula and re-entrant cannula in the proximal duodenum. The four treatments were intraruminal dosings with different amounts (0, 450, 900 and 1800 mg/day) of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). The sheep were fed a pelleted diet with excessive concentrations of manganese, iron, zinc and copper. Fecal excretion of iron and zinc increased, and apparent absorption decreased, with increasing dose of NTA. However, only the differences between means for zinc were statistically significant. Fecal excretion and apparent absorption of manganese and copper were not affected by NTA. Flow of soluble iron through the duodenum increased with increasing dose of NTA. There was no effect of NTA on concentrations of manganese, iron, zinc and copper in the rumen bacteria or on microbial activity in the rumen as measured by the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen and by flow of nitrogen into the small intestine.