Abstract
The iron status in 6 bovine fetuses (3 to 8 months old) obtained from a slaughterhouse was examined. Mean serum ferritin concentration was4.4±4.4 (SD)μg/ml. Mean nonheme iron concentration was404±146μg/g in the liver and 37±18μg/g in the spleen. Mean ferritin concentration was 1, 106±466μg/g in the liver and 35±21μg/g in the spleen. All these values, except spleen ferritin concentration, were much higher than reference values for calves aged one week [Miyata and Furugouri: Jpn J Vet Sci, 49, 1157-1159 (1987)]. These results indicate that cattle fetuses have higher iron stores than newborn calves.
