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Copper deficiency - best treatments

  • 23-05-2013 9:47am
    #1
    kowtow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭


    We have a definite tinge of red emerging in our bunch of FR/HO cows and their calves... in some of the calves it's so pronounced you would think they were mainly red (there is some Montbeliarde in there somewhere) but in others it's just something you catch sight of in a particular evening light.

    Combined with the fact that they are very slow to shed the last of their winter coats it's making me think there is a copper issue. They have plenty of post-calver buckets around although they are not as keen for them as they used to be.

    Otherwise they are recovering well from a hungry winter and - although a very mixed bunch - the calves are thriving (they are suckling this year).

    What's the best / quickest solution for this? Would minerals in the feed rather than the bucket help, or do we give them a bolus? If it's secondary copper deficiency from molybdenum is there any danger of them getting too much copper?


    Not that I have anything against any hair colour .. but with ginger chickens, ginger dog, one ginger horse and now the Cows I'm wondering should we change the name of the place... "African Sunset farm"


Comments

  • #2
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,757 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Using boluses here, but they need to be done before ai, which I presume you are doing? Copper can be toxic to early embryos AFAIK. Maybe get a few bloods done and your vet can advise you. 4g Sheep bolus might work on calves, last yr we did half the calves to see would it make a difference.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



  • #3
    kowtow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭kowtow


    blue5000 wrote: »
    Using boluses here, but they need to be done before ai, which I presume you are doing? Copper can be toxic to early embryos AFAIK. Maybe get a few bloods done and your vet can advise you. 4g Sheep bolus might work on calves, last yr we did half the calves to see would it make a difference.

    Yup - we will be doing AI although only calved the last a week ago so I want to spend some time getting them into a decent state before we do. It won't kill us (he says..) to calve a bit later.

    How long before AI does the bolus need to be done?


  • #4
    Henwin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 630 ✭✭✭Henwin


    does tat toxicity aplly to the all trace bolus as well. we did our dairy herd a few weeks ago and sum were all ready ai'd. is this goin to pose a problem do ye tink?


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