[Jacob-list] Re:minerals, symptoms

[Gary Tomas Fay]

Neal,

Thanks for that valuable information. I decided it was about time to get
some more advanced information on Livestock Metabolism. I headed over to
State's campus and found two great books, on on Physiology and one on
Feeds and Nutrition. (Ensminger, Oldfield and Heinmann) The Ensminger
text did not have much on copper toxicity, but had a good deal on
copper deficiency, especially as related to the levels of Molybdenum.

In fact they went into great detail on how to increase the levels of
copper in the diet to meet the nutrional requirements of the sheep in
areas of excess Molybdenum. They even suggested looking into the eyes
for Jaundice (copper toxicity) if the Molybdenum levels were too low. I
am not sure if that was the chelating substance to which you were
refering or not but from the descriptions it seems like an important
ratio to balance.

I always love going back to State's campus, they usually have the best
reference materials for agriculture. Much better than that "other"
school we talked about. Nice to know there are so many experts around to
assist with such critical items. (Both on campus and on the list.) I
almost wish I was younger, head back to school, pick up some animal
husbandry classes. Perhaps I will take a seminar or two if I can find a
listing. (        Not only that, there are more girls on campus now than
when I went... 7;-}                       - )

Gary...

Grose wrote:

>  I do not see evidence of jaundice prior to illness, though there is
> not much reason to look until they fall over. Keep in mind that I have
> not had  copper toxicity in the Jacobs. As I understand it, sheep are
> amaisingly good at conserving copper, which is stored in the liver. I
> do not know if you can test for liver enzymes to fortell problems.
> Some treatment is supposed to be possible by feeding chelated minerals
> which are formulated to tie up the copper and allow it to be
> excreted.Sheep breeds differ in copper tolerance accordding to where
> the base breed stock evolved. Geographic areas which hwd naturally low
> levels of copper yield sheep breeds that fall over dead at a wiff of
> copper. Those areas with high levels of copper yield breeds that show
> little or no problems. Silver Lincolns die before white ones which die
> before Black faces which die before Finns etc. In addition, different
> forages, grains, and mineral mixes have copper that is absorbed
> differently. Absorbtion is also affected by pH in the rumenIt is not a
> bad idea to have your forages tested for copper as well as other
> nutriants. Be confident in you mineral supplier. Mineral suppliment is
> the CHEAPEST part of  rations, including water. It makes no sense to
> simply buy the cheapest thing on the
> market.                                              Neal Grose