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Copper Deficiency and Copper Poisoning
Last month Mark attended a meeting of vets to discuss copper in
cattle and sheep. Copper deficiency has been identified as the cause
of poor growth rates and infertility. The country as a whole is
experiencing an increase in the number of flocks and herds diagnosed
as having copper deficiency but at the same time, the incidence
of copper toxicity is also increasing.
It is widely agreed that true copper deficiency
of soils in the UK is rare and that molybdenum (Mo) acts as an antagonist,
blocking the effect of copper in the body. The mechanism for this
is a subject of heated debate. Most scientists agree that Mo attaches
to copper in the gut and prevents its absorption. Some say Mo not
only does this but is also absorbed into the body and acts directly
as a poison.
These points may seem academic but they influence
the arguments over the best ways to measure body copper levels and
treat deficiencies. Put simply, blood samples give you a very rough
guide to copper levels and different tests may be better than others.
Liver biopsies are better than blood samples as copper is stored
there.
So what is the best way to diagnose copper
deficiency?
Well even the boffins like a suck it and see approach. They recommend
the following:
| 1 |
Identify the problem and decide whether
it can be attributed to copper deficiency. |
| 2 |
Rule out other causes of the problem.
For example, energy deficiency is the major cause of infertility
in dairy cattle. |
| 3 |
Make sure that you know the total level
of copper in the animal’s diet.
Toxicity often occurs when there are multiple copper supplements
e.g. in the cake, a mineral bucket and copper injections. |
| 4 |
Blood sampling may highlight that copper
levels are already high and that extra copper may lead to toxicity. |
| 5 |
After all that, treat a proportion of the
herd or flock, stand back and see whether extra copper improves
things in those animals compared to the rest. As fertility and
growth rates are influenced by many factors, blanket copper
treatment followed by improvements, may not mean the animals
were copper deficient! |
If you think your stock could benefit from additional
copper, please speak to us for advice.
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