Relative Availability of Nickel in the Goat

A study was carried out to compare the rates of absorption of nickel from two nickel complexes and two nickel salts in the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Treatments consisted of oral administration of 5mg equivalents of elemental nickel from nickel sulphate hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O); nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl2.6H2O); nickel sodium monofluorophosphate (Ni-SMFP) complex and nickel-chloroquine (Ni-Clrq) complex. Changes in the plasma levels of nickel were monitored until the concentration declined. Nickel absorption into the blood was in the order: Ni-SMFP>NiClrq>NiSO4.6H2O>NiCl2.6H2O indicating that nickel is more readily available to goats in the complex forms. JARD Vol. 1 2001: pp. 23-30