Content, variability and correlations of heavy metals in the organs and tissues of the Romanov sheep breed

The content of trace elements in soil, water and fodder was analyzed in the sheep breeding area in Kuzbass. The content of heavy metals in the obtained samples did not exceed MAC. Concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc were determined using atomic emission and atomic absorption spectrometry methods. A total of 125 organ and tissue samples were taken from the animals after slaughter at 7-8 months of age. The research materials were processed using Microsoft Office Excel, RStudio version 2022.07+S76 programs. Selectivity in the accumulation of essential elements in organs and tissues was revealed. The highest level of copper was in liver (5.38 mg/kg) and zinc in wool (77.5 mg/kg). A successively decreasing series of organs and tissues in terms of copper content is presented in the form of liver > kidneys > heart = muscle = wool. The ranked series for zinc concentration differed significantly: wool > liver > muscle > heart > kidney. Phenotypic variability in copper content was higher in liver and zinc in wool. In dendrograms, clusters were distinguished by the similarity of copper and zinc content in organs and tissues. In the dendrogram, two clusters were identified by similarity of copper concentration and three clusters by zinc concentration, which separately included wool, kidney and heart, muscle and liver. The highest integrated accumulation ratios of heavy metals were in liver and wool. Correlations for heavy metal levels varied within limits between individual organs and tissues, both in magnitude and direction. 

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