Deficiency

DEFICIENCY
  • A deficiency of copper impairs the animal's ability to absorb iron leading to anemia,
  • Deficiency of copper causes
    • Poor growth
    • Bone disorders.
    • Scouring, gastro-intestinal disturbances
    • Infertility,
    • Depigmentation of hair and wool,
    • Lesions in the brain stem and spinal cord. The lesions are associated with muscular incoordination, and occur especially in young lambs - swayback condition also known as 'enzootic ataxia' or neonatal ataxia. The signs range from complete paralysis of the newborn lamb to a swaying staggering gait, which affects, in particular, the hind limbs.
    • Loss of 'crimp' in wool - 'stringy' or 'steely' wool
    • 'falling disease' – sudden death due to rupture of major blood vessels
    • Copper deficiency also leads to reproductive problems in cattle.
Last modified: Monday, 26 March 2012, 6:08 AM