RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOME SOIL PARAMETERS AND THE BLOOD GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY OF GRAZING SHEEP

The relationships between some soil parameters and blood glutathione p eroxidase (GSHPx) activity in 15-day-old lambs was studied on 18 sheep farms. Soil samples were analysed for the proportions of sand, silt a nd clay, pH, and the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, iron, nitr ogen and sulphates. On the farms where the lambs had adequate GSHPx ac tivity (greater than or equal to 130 iu/g Hb) the soils contained sign ificantly more clay, phosphorus and sulphates, and significantly less iron and nitrogen, than on the farms where the lambs did not have adeq uate GSHPx activity.