Accumulation and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Organs and Tissues of Hereford Cattle

This study investigated the accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the organs and tissues of Hereford cattle to inform strategies for livestock production. The study was conducted on Hereford bulls (n = 31) raised in the Novosibirsk region. After slaughter, 100 g samples of heart, diaphragm muscle, spleen, liver, kidneys, and testes were collected from each animal. Heavy metal content in the samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using an MGA-1000 analyzer. The studied mineral elements exhibited discrete distribution patterns in the organs and tissues of Hereford cattle. Iron, cadmium, and copper demonstrated pronounced tropism. Cadmium accumulated primarily in the kidneys, while copper concentration in the liver was approximately 20 times higher than in other organs. The spleen, playing a key role in hematopoiesis, served as the primary iron reservoir. The distribution of lead and zinc was more uniform compared to other heavy metals. The level of phenotypic variability in the content of these elements differed significantly depending on the organ. Lead levels in the kidneys and heart were 2 to 6 times lower than in other organs and tissues. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that heavy metal accumulation in muscle tissue generally reflects the overall heavy metal burden in cattle. The liver contained significantly higher concentrations of manganese, copper, and iron compared to other organs and tissues, and the individual phenotypic variability of these metals in the liver was higher than in the lungs, heart, spleen, kidneys, muscle tissue, and testes. The spleen accumulated substantial amounts of iron and lead (237.2 and 0.116 mg/kg, respectively), while cadmium levels in this organ were relatively low (0.014 mg/kg). In contrast, the kidneys exhibited high cadmium concentrations (up to 1.4 mg/kg) but low levels of iron and lead (40.2 and 0.026 mg/kg, respectively).