Study on Mineral Content in Leg Muscles and Liver of Coypu (Myocastor Coypus), Farmed in Western Poland

Samples of 25 coypu specimen were used for analysis of mineral content by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The macroelement Na was measured with 2227 mg/kg in leg muscles, K with 1081 mg/kg. The contents in liver were twice to thrice higher. Zn had the highest concentration of microelements in muscle (35 mg/kg), the means of Fe (11 mg/kg), Cu (2 mg/kg), Mn, Ni and Se ( < 1 mg/kg) follow in descending order. Liver content for Mn were five times, for Se four times higher than in leg muscles. Zn, Fe, Cu und Ni had a two times higher content. The means of trace elements follow with Sr, Cr, Mo, Al and Co. Sr was estimated with 0.74 mg/kg, Cr with 0.21 mg/kg, Mo and Al with nearly 1 mg/kg and Co with 0.01 mg/kg in leg muscles. Co-content was four times higher in liver, for the other trace elements nearly two times higher. The high mineral content of livers is a sign for a good mineral composition of the provided food.