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The aim of the study was to determine iron status in chosen organs of the European bison free ranging in Białowieża Primeval Forest. The material for analyses was obtained from animals eliminated during annual selection. Segments of liver, kidney, muscle, rib, and hoof were collected. Animals were divided depending on gender (males and females) and age (calves up to 1 year and animals older than 2 years). Mean iron concentration in liver was 263.59 mg ∙ kg-1 fresh tissue. The iron content was significantly higher in the group of animals older than 2 years (P≤0.05). The average content of iron in kidneys amounted to 156.70 mg ∙ kg-1 fresh tissue. The average iron content in muscles amounted to 79.95 mg ∙ kg-1 fresh tissue. Similarly to the liver samples a statistically significant difference (P≤0.05) was demonstrated depending on age. The average iron content in ribs and in the horn of the hoof wall of all European bison amounted to 38.90 mg ∙ kg-1 fresh tissue and 47.87 mg ∙ kg-1 dry matter, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the iron content were observed depending on gender. |
