Copper Deficiency in Animals
Deficiency of copper in livestock is a common problem worldwide. It occurs due to a combination of factors, including: low soil levels; high soil concentrations of minerals known to antagonize copper (molybdenum, sulfur, and sulfate); plant effects; and breed factors.
Typical deficiency symptoms include rough, discolored hair coats (red tinge on black hair or loss of pigment around the eyes); winter coats that are slow to shed; decreased conception rates; increased days open; hoof problems; and depressed immunity.
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Copper is a mineral that is important for animals’ health with ferrous sulphate. It helps the body produce red blood cells, keep nerve cells healthy and form collagen. It also acts as an antioxidant to reduce free radicals that damage DNA and cell structures.
Signs of copper deficiency include fatigue, frequent sickness, weak bones, problems walking and sensitivity to cold weather. This condition often affects young animals.
Some of the signs can be very similar to other diseases and are often mistaken for them. These include weakness in the hind limbs, loss of appetite, diarrhea and decreased fertility.
In cattle, a copper deficiency can cause enzootic ataxia. It usually occurs in the first 30 days after birth and causes a decrease in locomotion and limb movements.
The symptoms of copper deficiency can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor nutrition and parasite infestation. Calves born to copper-deficient cows experience increased death losses, reduced growth and poor production efficiency.
Another possible source of copper deficiency is excess molybdenum in the diet. When molybdenum is present in a ruminant diet, it reduces the availability of copper by forming copper-molybdenum-sulphur compounds called thiomolybdates in the rumen. These thiomolybdates can then cross the bloodstream and cause disease signs similar to those seen in copper deficiency.
In some cases, copper deficiency can be induced by excessive sulphur in the soil or high levels of iron and molybdenum in the pastures. Grazing on these deficient soils can lead to copper deficiency in sheep and cattle.
Secondary copper deficiency is a more common problem than primary copper deficiency. It often occurs when stock graze on land that has been treated with chemicals such as liming or fertilizers that contain too much iron, sulphur, zinc or molybdenum.
Liver analysis is the most reliable test for copper deficiency but it is not always possible with copper sulfate crystals to have it done on all herd members. Other measures of copper concentration in serum or the content of hair, liver and kidneys can be used to help diagnose this condition.
Copper toxicity is very rare but it can be serious and should be treated immediately if it does occur. This can be avoided by checking the copper status of the herd regularly while supplementing with copper and avoiding routes that may result in oversupplementation.
Diagnosis
Copper is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in the body. It helps with growth, pigmentation, fertility and nerve fibre development. A deficiency in copper can cause a range of problems for animals.
There are two main ways in which copper can become deficient. One is due to low dietary levels of the mineral, known as primary copper deficiency. Another is caused by high dietary levels of other minerals which act as "antagonists" to copper uptake and absorption. These include molybdenum and sulfates.
The most reliable way of assessing copper deficiency in cattle is to measure copper levels in the liver. This can be done either on samples from slaughtered animals or by live-animal biopsy.
If the copper concentration in a liver sample is lower than 45umol/kg then it is likely that there is copper deficiency. The copper concentration in blood can also be used but is less accurate.
It is important to ensure that you keep copper levels in your herd at a good level as it can be a big problem if you are not careful. You can monitor your herd's copper status by taking a sample of liver, feed and water. If you find that your herd has a problem with copper deficiency, discuss this with your local vet and discuss whether they can assist in the diagnosis of the condition or recommend any treatment.
The first step in the diagnosis of copper deficiency of feed additives is to assess the risk factors that may be causing your herd to be copper deficient. Look out for signs of anemia, poor growth rates, defects in wool and hair, or nervous tissue abnormalities.
In a study carried out in Brazil, copper deficiency was diagnosed in 56 sheep from an affected herd. Five of these sheep developed characteristic clinical symptoms of enzootic ataxia, which includes locomotion difficulties, limb ataxia and tremors.
This disease is often difficult to diagnose as there are a number of other conditions which can present similar symptoms. The best way of diagnosing copper deficiency is to analyse the herd's dietary intake and water and liver samples.
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Treatment
Copper deficiency is a common problem in animals, particularly cattle. It can be caused by several factors, including low copper intakes, excessive amounts of sulfates or molybdenum in the diet or water, and a variety of other conditions.
The first step in the diagnosis of copper deficiency is to measure copper levels. This can be done by measuring the copper content of a sample of hair, liver, kidney or serum. If the level of copper is low, a copper injection may be required to correct the deficiency.
Cattle that are susceptible to copper deficiency can be treated with injectable chelated copper compounds, which are delivered directly into the bloodstream. They are effective in correcting copper deficiencies, but must be repeated every four to six months.
Sheep are also susceptible to copper deficiency, and treatment can be given to prevent swayback in lambs. This can be achieved by supplementing dietary copper or giving supplemental copper through fertilisers with zinc sulphate heptahydrate.
There are various ways to treat copper deficiency in animals, including oral supplements, slow-release intraruminal boluses, and injectable copper compound injected under the skin. Often, these methods are combined with selenium and cobalt.
It is important to determine the cause of the copper deficiency before deciding on a course of treatment. Copper deficiency is a chronic problem that can lead to death, so it is essential to get a proper diagnosis before beginning any treatment.
Copper is involved in many important enzymes that help with the structure and function of cells. It is essential for electron transfer in key enzymes such as cytochrome-c-oxidase, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, tyrosinase, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, lysyl oxidase, monoamine oxidase and ceruloplasmin.
These enzymes play a critical role in key processes such as the synthesis of melanin, catecholamines, serotonin, dopamine and thyroid hormones. They also play a key role in immunity to bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases.
Copper deficiency can affect immune responses, which is why it is important to ensure that your cattle are properly nourished. If your cattle are not receiving enough copper, they will be less likely to respond to vaccinations.
Prevention
Copper is an essential mineral for many different tissues and functions in animals. It is used to make red blood cells, and it also plays an important role in iron metabolism and bone formation.
It is very important to prevent copper deficiency in your herd with ammonium sulfate. Deficiencies can occur due to lack of copper in the feed or by excesses of other minerals which bind to copper and make it unavailable.
Primary copper deficiency is caused by a lack of copper in the diet and can be prevented by feeding copper enriched foods or increasing copper concentrations in ruminant feeds. Secondary copper deficiency is more common and can be caused by antagonism by elements such as sulphur, iron and molybdenum which reduce available copper in the diet.
This deficiency is most commonly seen in young animals such as calves and fetuses, but mature cattle and sheep can also be affected. A deficiency may also be caused by various conditions that affect absorption of copper from the large intestine or small intestine in sheep and cattle.
The primary way to prevent copper deficiency is by ensuring that the copper concentration of your pastures is above 4 ppm (dry matter basis) for cattle and above 5 ppm for sheep. This is particularly important in western Australia where the levels of molybdenum in the forage can be high and this can block the copper from being absorbed by the rumen.
Other ways to prevent copper deficiency are by making sure the feed contains enough of this mineral, or by top dressing the pasture with fertilizers that contain copper. Some methods of copper supplementation include the administration of blocks of multi-mineral supplements such as copper sulphate.
Alternatively, copper boluses can be used in the oral diet of cattle and sheep. These are fine rods of copper oxide which dissolve in the rumen and release the copper for absorption.
In addition, the copper-containing protein ceruloplasmin is known to have antioxidant properties. This is because it is capable of promoting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the test tube.
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