Incidence of trace element disorders in livestock in relation to soil-plant-animal interaction in Japan

Abstract

The soil and its parent materials are the primary sources of trace elements for plant and animal. However, the relationships among soil, plant and animal are not so simple because the absorption rate of trace elements from soil to plant and the utilization of trace elements in plant by animal is influenced by various factors. This review describes the trace element disorders which occur under the practical conditions in Japan; cobalt deficiency, molybdenium toxicity and complicated copper deficiency. The recent advances on the trace element research in animal nutrition are also reviewed.