iron

Heavy metal contamination of foods is an issue of global concern. This study was conducted to determine the concentration of Lead, Calcium and Iron in chicken paste prepared by manual and mechanical methods. For this, in eight chicken were bought from the daily market and four samples deboned by hand and the other four chicken were minced completely. The concentration of the elements was performed through dry-ashing and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. According to the results, the average amount of lead in the manual method was 2.94 mg/kg and the mechanical method was 3.79 mg/kg. The average amount of calcium by the manual and mechanical method was 65.78 and 275.83 mg/kg, respectively. In the case of iron, it was estimated as 4.21 and 23.05 mg/kg, respectively. A significant (p < 0.05) difference was observed between the average concentrations of lead, calcium, and iron achieved from manual and mechanical methods. The results revealed that the lead contents in all of the analyzed chicken paste samples and calcium content in mechanically deboned ones exceeded the approved limits set by International Codex and WHO (0.1 and 100 mg/kg). Moreover, the iron content in all of the samples was lower than the limit recommended by WHO/FAO. The concentration of these elements and their difference in the two chicken pastes can be used in discovering the type of chicken paste in meat products.

This study investigates the presence of heavy metals such as iron، zinc، copper and cadmium in muscle، skin، gonad and gill tissues of fish (Rutilus rutilus caspicus) in two sites in Sari and Turkmen Seaport of Southern part of Caspian Sea. Samples were collected in autumn 2013 and winter 2014. After preparation and parting of tissues، concentration of heavy metals were determined in tissues of 37 samples (20 samples in autumn and 17 samples in winter) following wet digestion using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The results of this study showed that the average concentrations of iron and zinc were at maximum in gill and at minimum in muscle. However the average concentrations of copper were at maximum in gonad and at minimum in muscle and the average concentrations of cadmium were at maximum in muscle and at minimum in gonad. Iron concentrations were shown to be higher than those of zinc، copper and cadmium in various organs of fish. Accumulation of iron، zinc، copper and cadmium in muscle، skin، gonad and gill was highly significant between them (P<0. 05). Concentrations of iron in muscle and skin were significantly different (P<0. 05)، unlike those in skin and gonad (P>0. 05). Concentrations of cadmium in muscle and skin were not significantly different، unlike those in muscle and gonad. These values were compared with the WHO and the FAO and UK (MAFF) safety standards regarding the amount of the above mentioned heavy metals in fish tissues. Based on the results of this study، the average concentrations of zinc in the gill tissues proved to be higher than international standards. The average concentrations of cadmium in the muscle، skin and gill tissues proved to be higher than international standards. It is recommended not to use these fish due to the toxicity and high levels of cadmium in their muscle tissues.

No study has been conducted on iron requirements of broiler breeder hens until now. The purpose of the present study was to determine the iron requirement of broiler breeder hens using nonlinear models. Forty eight (Cobb 500) broiler breeder hens were individually placed in galvanized wire cages. In order to depletion of hens iron reserved, hens were offered a semi purified iron deficient diet for 3 weeks. At 62 week of age, Hens were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (37, 52, 67, 82 ppm of diet iron) with 4 replicates. Body weight gain, egg production and egg weight were measured during 6 weeks experimental period. The results showed that the estimated iron requirement for egg production(H.H), egg weight, iron content of the liver, blood serum, bone marrow, spleen and egg yolk were 65, 62, 54, 72, 57, 63, 64 ppm respectively. The logistic model was fitted to iron content of liver, spleen, serum and bone marrow, suggested that iron requirement were equal to 66, 53, 129, 58 ppm respectively. Fitted exponential model estimated iron requirement for egg weight, iron content of liver, spleen, serum and bone marrow were 62, 96, 70, 73, 111 ppm respectively. Also based on the quadratic equation models, estimated iron requirement for egg production(H.H), egg weight, iron content of the liver, blood serum, bone marrow, spleen and egg yolk were 65, 66, 71, 220, 51, 70, 62 ppm respectively. Among the four models used, the broken line model is more accurate in estimating the required iron than other models due to the low variance between estimated requirements. Results indicated that value recommended by primary breeder (Cobb 500 management guide, 55 ppm) is lower than values obtained in present study.

This study was conducted to evaluate the copper (Cu)، zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) status in the industrial (n=12) and semi-industrial (n=12) dairy cattle farms from Isfahan city. A factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design consisting four blocks (North، South، West and East) was used. Effects of season in two levels (cold and warm) and cow-rearing practices in two levels (industrial and semi-industrial) on Cu، Zn and Fe concentrations in blood serum of 240 Holstein lactating dairy cows (after second calving، after peak of milk production، averaging 610±50 Kg BW، 30Kg daily milk yield and 170±20 days milking period) were studied. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 5 dairy cows in each farm randomly. In industrial farms diet samples were collected from total mixed rations (TMR) and in semi-industrial farms، the samples were separately collected from forage and concentrates. To assess the Cu، Zn، Fe status in blood serum and diet، concentrations of the elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The mean concentrations of selected elements in serum were found to be similar in both season in industrial farms. The mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in Serum samples from semi-industrial farms in winter were higher than summer (P<0. 05). The mean concentrations of selected elements in serum were found to be similar in both dairy cattle farms in winter but in summer the mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum samples from industrial farms were higher than semi-industrial farms (P<0. 05). No significant differences were observed in the mean concentrations of selected elements in diet of industrial and semi-industrial farms in both seasons. In winter the mean concentrations of Zn in diets of industrial farms were higher than semi-industrial farms and in summer the mean concentrations of Cu in diets of industrial farms were higher than semi-industrial farms (P<0. 05). Comparison between the mean concentration values and critical levels of these microelements (in serum and diet) by t student test showed that none of the values were classified as deficiency and the mean Cu concentration in blood serum were in marginal range (P<0. 05). In industrial farms، the mean concentrations of Cu، Zn and Fe in serum were 0. 540±0. 008 µg/ml، 1. 157±0. 016 µg/ml and 2. 817±0. 119 µg/ml، respectively. Furthermore، 11%nd 2% of copper and zinc concentrations in serum were below the critical levels، respectively. General conclusion of this study indicated that the mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in diet were sufficiently high، the mean concentrations of Fe in serum and diet were in very high levels، the mean concentration of Zn in serum was in normal ranges and the mean concentrations of Cu in serum were in marginal range، this was probably because of high concentration of Fe in diets.

Forty neonate calves were used in this study. The animals were divided into two treatment (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. In the treatment group, oral iron as ferrous sulphate was supplemented to each calf at the dose of 150 mg/day for 28 days, from the birthday. Blood sampling was taken from jugular vein immediately after birth and on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after birth. Significant differences in haematocrit (PCV) levels were found between two groups on days 14, 21 and 28 (P<0.05). Total gain, mean daily gain and weight gain during 4th week of life was significantly higher in the treatment group than control group (P 0.05). Chi-square test proved no significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of diseases.