[Jacob-list] Minerali mixes?

[Jennifer]

Hi Sue!

Im the oddball here as I am dealing with some issues that you probably do not have.

I live in Colorado and we have a high Iron content in the water, as well as high Molybdenum in our soils.  both of these issues cause copper DEFICIENCY in sheep, as it ties up all available natural copper.

As an Extension Agent, I have been afforded the opportunity to explore this professionally, as I am not the only one in my area with this issue.

I am working with Dr. Nancy Irlbeck, a Animal Nutritionist at CSU.  I am fortunate that Nancy is also a breeder if Handspinning sheep (Lincoln, Karakul, Wensleydale, Teeswater and CVM) We talk sheep often, and she helps with the National Western Collegiate Wool Judging contest that I host here at my office each year..... She is truly a great resource.

She explained to me that Natural colored sheep, and those with a longer staple length (not necessarily Jacobs) are more tolerant to copper levels and appear to have a higher copper requirement (she has not said that this is written in stone, and has not committed this) but she suggested that we look at using a mineral with added copper.

Keep in mind we had a difficult lambing year... nearly half my lamb crop was lost this year .. Mummified lambs... We submitted nearly all of the lambs to necropsy at CSU.  Nothing notable was found.  However.. all of the submissions had a low normal (but not deficient) copper level. We also had a weak lamb with neurological issues born 2 yrs ago, with no reasoning found on necropsy (at 2 months old) and his Cu levels were also low normal.... 

It is theorized that perhaps the Low end of the normal is for white, commercial type sheep... where a low normal reading for a natural colored sheep could indeed be a deficiency.

Now add in the other "clues" that I have had outside of the mummified lambs....

Dry fleeces:  This is an issue on Colorado, regardless of mineral level, due to our very arid mountain climate.. and the reason we have so many sheep wearing coats.
Tender fleeces:  Animals (wethers) with no stress, illness or feed changes were found to have a slight tenderness (not a break) in the fleece....
Fading color:  My flock genetics has just a few animals that are known to fade.  Most of my sheep are very defined black and white.  We began to see some graying on these animals who came to us as aged sheep, and the graying is not the normal graying.. we kept the distinct change in color between the different wool colors, but inside the black, we were getting graying, and almost a steely wool appearance, where it was coarse and harsh... not at all like the fleece had been when I got them.

These are all subtle issues that are seen with copper deficiency.

Looking at labels.. we found most sheep feeds/minerals to be in the 20ppm of Cu range.  Goat/Horse/Cattle tend to be well over 1000 ppm Cu.  Dr. Irlbeck recommended that we free choice offer the same mineral she is feeding her sheep that are dealing with similar Cu issues.  We are offering a basic loose trace mineral supplement.. It is primarily a slat based supplement, that has 420ppm Cu.  It is offered by American Stockman, and seems to be widely available.

I also have Sweetpro brand SHEEP mineral tubs out for my sheep in addition to the TM salt.

I cant offer that this system works, as I just started it a little while ago, but I will sure update with Cu levels at butcher on the Jacob lambs we process this year, and then again next year! 

Sorry for the long winded response... While I understand that my soil/water conditions play a big factor here, I am very curious to see if others are feeding Cu due to Natural Color needs.



Jennifer Tucker
Moose Mtn Ranch
Bennett, CO





-----Original Message-----
From: Susan J Martin <stcroft at ptd.net>
To: Sheep E-mail List <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 9:24 am
Subject: [Jacob-list] Minerali mixes?


I would be interested in hearing from you on what minerals (brands) you are feeding your sheep.  We feed loose, free choice minerals that also include salt......I am thinking about changing brands.  What do you use, why do you like it, do your sheep like it and eat it freely, etc? 
Thanks.
Sue Martin

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