[Jacob-list] Shearing Time! / Grey Banding in Fleeces

[Neal and Louise Grose]

We also live in and area where there can be severe problems from mineral 
interference. One local non-Jacob breeder had copper anemia that the vet 
students suggested had come from the sheep licking her dry zinc-sulfate 
footbath (Which I had suggested that she use to treat her foot rot problem. 
Successfully, I might add.) It is more likely that the problem came from 
forages grown on her high iron and aluminum soils, which she never limed. 
High acid soils can release minerals into the forage in quantities that can 
lead to toxicity.

I would check with a local dairy nutritionist. Beef cattle can tolerate a 
wide range of mineral problems. Dairy farmers have to be more attuned to 
mineral balance in feeds and are more likely to be aware of unusual 
conditions.

Neal Grose
N.C. dairy farmer


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARTHUR PARTRIDGE" <aztreaz at earthlink.net>
To: "jacob-list" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Cc: <lynettefrick at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 12:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Shearing Time! / Grey Banding in Fleeces



> >The problem is that other minerals such as iron and molybdenum in the 

> >soil

> interfere with the uptake of copper from the rumen in both sheep >and

> cattle.

> ========

> Juliet's comments jogged my memory.  The banded fleece that was on eBay

> auctions came from a flock in Colorado or other Rocky Mountain state where

> there is a lot of mining activity.  This supports what Juliet wrote above.

>

> Cathy

> Moscow, Idaho

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks

> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

>