[Effect of a calcium-deficient, phosphate- or ammonia-rich diet on the development and mineral metabolism of growing miniature pigs].

The metaphylaxis of renal calculi in form of partial withdrawal of Ca and the nutrition rich in phosphate or NH4C1 in children was disputed and not ascertained by animal experiments. For this purpose growing female dwarf pigs got a semisynthetic ration with 1 g Ca and 23 g P, respectively, or 15 g NH4C1 per kg dry feeding mass during 168 days. The dwarf pigs fed poor in Ca had a reduced increase of body-weight of 30%, the pigs fed rich in P and NH4C1 a reduced increase of body-weight of 11 and 16%, respectively, compared with the control dwarf pigs.

[Excessive iron administration to sheep. 2. The effect on the iron, copper, zinc and manganese level in different organs].

Lambs received 250, 1000 and 1750 mg Fe per kg concentrate dry matter. The Fe-supplementations caused the Fe-levels of spleen, liver, kidneys and ribs to rise significantly. Liver and spleen reflected most markedly the high Fe-supply.

[Nickel--an essential trace element. 3. Effect of nickel deficiency on reproductive performance in female animals].

A total of 26 Ni-deficient (less than 100 ppm Ni in the ration) breeding goats and their 30 kids and 24 corresponding control goats with 37 kids were used to investigate, over 6 experimental years, the influence of Ni-deficiency on the reproductive performance until weaning. Following the same arrangement, 7 and 6 mini sows, respectively, and their piglets (71 and 67) were studied. The following statistically secured results were obtained.

[Nickel--an essential trace element. 1. Influence of the supply of nickel on live weight gains, food consumption and body composition of growing pigs and goats].

Pigs and goats were used in long-term trials to investigate in which way supplements of 100 mug Ni per kg of a semisynthetic diet (control rations: 10 mg Ni per kg of the diet) would influence the rate of weight gains and food consumption and the body composition of the animals. A significant decline in the rate of weight increase was noted in the Ni-deficient animals. Ni-supplements added to the diet (10 mg/kg) increased the weight gains by 21% (goats) and 13% (pigs).

[Supply of trace elements to ruminants in the German Democratic Republic. 3. Supply of zinc].

The supply of zinc to ruminants as influenced by and depending upon the geological origin of soils was investigated using the hair test and the technique of indicator plants. A total of 1276 samples of red meadow clover and 3022 samples of red field clover and 4184 hair specimens from cows were analyzed. The following statistically well-established results were obtained which appear to be generalizable: Red meadow clover contained significantly more Zn than red field clover (48 ppm/38 ppm).