Evaluation of the Liver Biopsy Technique for Mineral Nutrition Studies with Beef Cattle

An aspiration liver biopsy technique was described and three studies were conducted to evaluate the use of the technique for mineral studies. Site of biopsy exerted a significant effect on Cu levels in liver biopsies in one of the studies, but the magnitude of the range was only 36 ppm. In a study to determine the effect of Mo intake and biopsy site on the liver respiration, xanthine oxidase and Mo values, the site of biopsy did not affect these values significantly, but the Mo content of the liver was affected significantly by the Mo intake. When Cu intake and site of biopsy effect was studied in a third experiment, the site of biopsy did not show a significant effect on the level of Cu or Fe in the biopsy, but the effect of Cu intake on liver Cu level was significant.