[Effect of endogenous factors on ash, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zink, iron, copper and manganese concentration in the pig bristle. 6. Effect of gender on mineral composition of pig bristle].

Sex-specific hormones were found to influence the bristle's mineral content. The bristles of female (N=151) and male (N=152), 42-day old piglets did not differ in the proportion of the elements under study (P greater than 0.05). The bristles of 36 female and 36 male castrated fattening pigs in the 40-110 kg weight range did not reveal significant differences either (P greater than 0.05). The bristles of sows and boars showed differences in the contents of ash, Mg, K, Na, P, Zn and Mn (P greater than 0.05) as well as in the contents of Fe (P greater than 0.01) and Cu (P greater than 0.05). The difference for the Ca-content could not be statistically secured (P greater than 0.05). The content of the bristle or hair of sexually mature animals in certain elements is influenced by sex hormones and should be regarded as a secondary sexual characteristic.