Premium
Copper supplementation of sheep
Author(s) -
JUDSON G. J.,
TRENGOVE C. L.,
LANGMAN M. W.,
VANDERGRAAFF R.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1984.tb07188.x
Subject(s) - copper , abomasum , zoology , pasture , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , biology , rumen , agronomy , organic chemistry , fermentation
SUMMARY The effect of 6 methods of copper supplementation on copper status was examined in Merino sheep at pasture. Plasma copper concentrations were not affected by any of the treatments. Liver copper concentrations in sheep given an oral dose of 3 g of oxidised copper wire particles were significantly greater than those of untreated sheep for the duration of the experiment of 80 weeks. Subcutaneous injections of 18 mg of copper as diethylamino cupro‐oxyquinoline sulphonate produced small, transient increases in liver copper. Single oral doses of 150 mg of copper as copper sulphate or 30 mg of copper as copper oxychloride produced little or no detectable increase in liver copper. Liver copper concentrations of untreated sheep were lowest in winter, apparently associated with increased damage to the abomasum, as indicated by raised plasma pepsinogen activities.