Copper is a heavy metal element which has very important functions in the cow’s body. These include building immunity, growth and reproduction. Copper gets into the body mainly through the food the animals eat and the water they drink. Feeds from some areas have low copper content. Their intake results in what is called primary or absolute copper deficiency. In some cases certain elements in the feed, if present in high concentrations, may interfere with availability of copper to the body. The elements may form fairly stable complexes with copper and prevent usage of the mineral by the body. This is termed as secondary copper deficiency because the levels of copper in the blood may be normal but the mineral itself available for use by the body is below average. Some of the elements that reduce copper availability to the body are Iron, Zinc, Molybdenum and Sulphates. The treatment I prescribed for Greg’s cattle is called symptomatic because I based the diagnosis on the sign
We are a non-profit online community of visionary, dedicated and passionate farmers who have come together to encourage, share and assist one another with valuable farming information and technology regarding the best agricultural practices and trends across the world. Our primary goal is to “Promote Sustainable Agriculture” as a viable tool to food security across the world.