Iron-induced copper deficiency in calves: dose-response relationships and interactions with molybdenum and sulphur

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Bremner ◽  
W. R. Humphries ◽  
M. Phillippo ◽  
M. J. Walker ◽  
P. C. Morrice
Keyword(s):  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Copper Metabolism ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Potent Antagonist ◽  
Rate Of Decline

ABSTRACTThe effects of dietary supplements of iron, molybdenum and sulphur on copper metabolism in calves were examined. In one experiment, 27 castrated male pre-ruminant Friesian calves were given a milk-substitute ration containing 0·9, 4·5 or 9 mmol iron per kg dry matter for 8 weeks. The iron supplements had no effect on liver copper retention. When 24 of these calves were then given a diet based on barley grains and barley straw containing 0, 4·5, 9 or 13·5 mmols iron per kg for up to 24 weeks, liver and plasma copper concentrations were greatly reduced in all iron-supplemented animals but no clinical signs of copper deficiency developed. Reduction in the dietary sulphur concentration from 88 o t 47 mmol/kg after 12 weeks did not prevent the iron-induced reduction in liver copper concentrations n i animals given 9 or 13·5 mmol iron per kg. Plasma copper concentrations increased in all iron-treated calves given the low-sulphur diets, except in animals given 13·5 mmol iron per kg. The results indicate that iron is a potent antagonist of copper metabolism in weaned calves and that its effects are probably independent of dietary sulphur supply.In a second experiment 20 Hereford × Friesian female calves were given diets with supplements of 2·7 mmol iron and 20 μmol molybdenum per kg, separately and together, for 41 weeks. Both supplements reduced liver and plasma copper concentrations but only in the molybdenum-treated animals were live-weight gains reduced. The rate of decline in liver and plasma copper concentrations tended to be greatest in animals given both supplements, indicating that additive action of these antagonists is possible.

The effect of molybdenum, sulphur and iron on the copper status of store lambs

2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 ◽  
pp. 88-88
Author(s):  
A.M. Mackenzie ◽  
S Evans ◽  
J.N.C. Lynn ◽  
D.V. Illingworth ◽  
R.G. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Copper Metabolism ◽  
Mineral Deficiency ◽  
Copper Status ◽  
Biochemical Indicator ◽  
Copper Supplementation ◽  
The World ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
Accurate Indicator

Clinical copper deficiency is the second most common mineral deficiency in the world, the main cause being high dietary levels of molybdenum, sulphur and iron. Phillippo et al, (1987) reported that clinical signs of deficiency resulted from high dietary Mo and S. However, Fe and S resulted in hypocupraemia but did not induce clinical signs of deficiency. Therefore is was concluded that clinical copper deficiency was due to a direct effect of dietary Mo and S on copper metabolism in ruminants. Mackenzie et al. (1997) reported that plasma copper levels were not an accurate indicator of copper status and unlikely to predict animals requiring copper supplementation. Caeruloplasmin is large copper enzyme and accounts for 88% of plasma copper and Mackenzie et al. (1997) proposed that a caeruloplasmin to plasma copper ratio may provide a more accurate biochemical indicator of copper status. This trial was designed to investigate the effect of dietary Mo, S and Fe on the copper status of the lambs.

COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM STATUS OF GROWING BEEF CATTLE IN A SELENIUM DEFICIENT AREA OF NORTHERN ONTARIO

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. HIDIROGLOU ◽  
K. J. JENKINS ◽  
J. R. LESSARD ◽  
R. B. CARSON
Keyword(s):  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Copper Level ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
Copper Status ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Deficient Area ◽  
Copper Plasma

A study was conducted on the effect of nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) on the copper and molybdenum contents of various tissues from calves under three months of age. Fifty-one calves were employed from an area in northern Ontario where NMD is common and 12 calves from a dystrophy-free area. The latter animals were fed a milk substitute which contained some 4.5 times as much copper as the milk received by the calves in the NMD area. For suckled calves in northern Ontario, no significant difference in liver copper concentrations was observed between healthy and NMD-affected animals. In calves fed the milk substitute, the liver copper level was markedly higher [204.4 ± 71.0 (SD)] than in suckled calves with dystrophy (55.5 ± 36.3) or without the disorder (60.8 ± 53.7). The copper concentrations (μg/g DM) of other tissues from NMD-affected calves were: kidney 14.8 ± 3.3, heart 14.0 ± 2.5, lung 6.5 ± 2.0, spleen 4.3 ± 1.6 and muscle 3.0 ± 1.4. No significant differences in these copper levels occurred between NMD-affected and healthy calves, or those reared on the milk substitute. Similarly, there were no significant differences in tissue molybdenum concentrations. The data indicated that the calves reared in northern Ontario had a marginal copper deficiency. Tissue copper and molybdenum levels appeared to be unaffected by the development of myopathy in the calves. The copper status of two groups, of six calves each, wintered outdoors or indoors, also was compared. Hypocuprosis and copper plasma levels were not influenced by exposure to the severe outwintering conditions of northern Ontario. Plasma copper levels showed a gradual decrease from 66 ± 16 μg per 100 ml plasma at 1 week of age to 51 ± 10 μg per 100 ml at 19 weeks.

Copper deficiency: a study of prophylaxis and the interaction with cobalt therapy in lambs on improved hill pastures

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Whitelaw ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
R. H. Armstrong ◽  
C. C. Evans ◽  
A. R. Fawcett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
History Of ◽  
Short Time

ABSTRACTAn experiment was conducted with 84 suckling Scottish Blackface twin lambs on an improved hill pasture with a history of cobalt deficiency and molybdenum/sulphur-induced copper deficiency. The dams of 13 pairs of twins were treated with 90 mg copper at parturition (Cue) and one member of each pair was given a cobalt bullet (Co + ). One member of each of a further 29 pairs was treated periodically with 5 to 15mg copper to maintain plasma copper concentrations >0·6mg/l (Cu+) while their siblings received no supplementary copper (Cu). Fourteen of these pairs also received a cobalt bullet (Co + ). Lambs not treated with cobalt are designated Co−.The Cue treatment increased milk copper concentrations, but only for a short time, and resulted in transitory increases in lamb plasma copper concentrations and rate of live-weight gain. At the end of the grazing phase, at approximately 20 weeks of age, Cu+ lambs had gained 0-28 kg more weight than Cue lambs and 158 kg more than Cue lambs, and had higher liver copper concentrations. Cu+ and Cue lambs had heavier and fatter empty bodies and carcasses than Cu− lambs. The cobalt treatment produced no effects at this stage.Fifty-four of the lambs were housed and given dried grass pellets ad libitum. After 83 days liver copper concentrations were higher in Co− than Co+ lambs, and in Cu+ than in Cu− and Cue lambs. The copper treatments had no effect on rate or efficiency of live-weight gain, but Co− lambs gained weight more quickly and more efficiently than Co+ lambs.

Studies on copper and cobalt therapy of cattle in central coastal Queensland

1967 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
GI Alexander ◽  
JM Harvey ◽  
JH Lee ◽  
WC Stubbs
Keyword(s):  
Growth Response ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Copper Metabolism ◽  
Subcutaneous Injections ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
Copper Status ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Copper Supplementation ◽  
Copper Therapy ◽  
Effect Of Copper

Four experiments described determined the effect of copper and cobalt therapy on the growth and productivity of cattle on the marine plains of central coastal Queensland. Copper was administered by subcutaneous injections of copper glycinate, and cobalt by dosing per os with heavy cobalt pellets. The growth of weaned cattle was significantly improved by copper, particularly from June to October when limited palatable feed on the high ground forced the animals to forage on the para grass swamps. During the same period, 2-year-old heifers also showed a growth response to copper. Their conception rate increased after 19 months of copper therapy but not after 10.5 months. The growth rate of their calves bas significantly increased by copper supplementation. Liver copper concentrations were always low in untreated cattle. Copper therapy maintained these reserves at higher levels, which varied according to the season and the rate of growth of the animals. Calves born to treated cows had higher initial liver copper reserves than those from untreated cows, but in the absence of copper therapy these reserves declined to low and comparable levels in all calves at weaning. Pasture analyses suggest that the copper deficiency revealed was due to interference with copper metabolism rather than to a low copper status in the diet; this interference did not appear to be due to molybdenum. Weaned cattle appeared to respond to cobalt during 1960 but not subsequently, while the cows and calves showed no response. The vitamin B12 status in liver and serum appeared adequate in both treated and untreated cattle.

Clinically silent hypocuprosis and the effect of molybdenum loading on beef calves in Gippsland, Victoria

1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 885 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Bingley ◽  
N Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Oxidase Activity ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Coat Colour ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
Complex Relationships

Whole blood and liver copper concentrations of less than 0.5 µg per ml and 6 p.p.m. dry weight respectively were found in healthy beef calves from an acid soil region at Koonwarra in Victoria. Pasture samples collected each month for a year contained 2.4–6.7 p.p.m. dry weight of copper, 2.1–9.2 p.p.m, dry weight of molybdenum, and 0.07–0.47% dry weight of sulphate. The copper/molybdenum ratio was usually well below 2.0.Changes in the copper status of the cattle were related to seasonal fluctuations in the copper and molybdenum contents of the pastures. A macrocytic hypochromic anaemia was found in hypocuprotic calves. However, pallor of the mucous membranes was not observed and there was no relationship between coat colour and copper concentration of either hair or whole blood. The subcutaneous injection of 120 mg copper as glycinate raised the concentration of copper in the whole blood and liver of calves to c. 0.8 µg/ml and up to 50 p.p.m. dry weight respectively. Growth rates of calves given copper improved significantly and their carcass weights were 8.4% heavier than controls. In this environment the effects of a single treatment with copper glycinate lasted only 5 months. Although liver copper contents ranged from below 5 to above 70 p.p.m. dry weight, the copper contents of other tissues examined, such as kidney, spleen, heart, and bones, were similar whether the animals had received additional copper or molybdenum or neither. At the levels of molybdenum found in the pastures (2–9 p.p.m. dry weight) the synthesis of ceruloplasmin was readily decreased, whereas erythrocyte copper decreased more slowly. Therefore the estimation of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in plasma is suggested as a reliable and convenient means of assessing bovine hypocuprosis. The regression analyses showed a strongly positive correlation (r = 0.97) of plasma copper with ceruloplasmin oxidase activity as determined with p-phenylenediamine as substrate at the optimal pH. Special molybdenum pellets given to the calves augmented the tissue levels of molybdenum tenfold, but copper depletion did not occur to the point where clinical signs of copper deficiency or of molybdenosis appeared. In contrast to calves with large copper reserves, the mitochondria1 fraction of liver cells from hypocuprotic calves was found to contain more and the microsomal fraction less of the total liver copper. Because of the complex relationships between soil, pasture, and animals, it is concluded that a general recommendation for the minimum copper requirement of grazing cattle cannot reasonably be made without reference to soil and pasture concentrations of copper, molybdenum, and sulphate.

The effect of dietary molybdenum and iron on copper status, puberty, fertility and oestrous cycles in cattle

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Phillippo ◽  
W. R. Humphries ◽  
T. Atkinson ◽  
G. D. Henderson ◽  
P. H. Garthwaite
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
The Other ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Live Weight Gain

SummaryTwo experiments were conducted to examine the effects of supplementation of a control diet of barley grain and barley straw containing 4 mg copper (Cu)/kg dry matter (D.M.) either with 5 mg molybdenum (Mo)/kg D.M. or with 500 or 800 mg iron (Fe)/kg D.M. on puberty, fertility and oestrous cycles of cattle. Puberty occurred normally in control, Fesupplemented and control animals on a restricted intake whereas it was delayed by 12 and 8 weeks respectively by Mo supplementation. This effect of Mo was not due to the low Cu status since this was equally low in the Fe-supplemented animals, nor was it due to the reduced growth rate since puberty occurred normally in control animals that had a similar live-weight gain. A significant reduction in the pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone was observed within 11 weeks of the Mo supplementation and before any of the other clinical signs were evident, suggesting that Mo may be affecting puberty by altering the release of luteinizing hormone either directly or indirectly.Mo supplementation significantly reduced the percentage conception rate to 12–33% compared with 57–80% in control and Fe-supplemented animals. This effect was not dependent on the rate of live-weight gain which was standardized across the different treatments at approximately 0·6 kg/day. Within 12 weeks of the replacement of dietary Fe by Mo a lower conception rate occurred; replacing dietary Mo by Fe led to a normal conception rate within 12 weeks without any accompanying changes in Cu status or in the rate of live-weight gain. The plasma Mo concentrations, however, changed significantly during these alterations in dietary supplementation. The pre-ovulatory peak height of luteinizing hormone was significantly lower in animals on the Mo-supplemented diet compared with control and Fe-supplemented animals, but the administration of LHRH did not alter the conception rate.More Mo-supplemented animals failed to ovulate following prostaglandin induced synchronization in comparison with the other treatments, and by the 84th week a significantly greater number of Mo-supplemented animals (12/18) had become anoestrous compared with the other groups (2/30). Cu repletion of these anoestrous Mo animals for a period of 20 weeks did not result in resumption of normal oestrous cycles, but ovulation and oestrus were induced by progesterone and LHRH treatment. Results in the latter part of the study indicated that Mo caused superovulation.These data show that Mo supplementation delayed the onset of puberty, decreased the conception rate and caused anovulation and anoestrus in cattle without accompanying changes in Cu status or in live-weight gain. It is suggested that these effects of Mo are associated with a decreased release of luteinizing hormone that might be due to an altered ovarian steroid secretion.

A note on an apparent copper deficiency in cattle in central coastal New South Wales

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (89) ◽  
pp. 905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davies H Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Copper Concentration ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Liver Copper ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Daily Gain

Hereford-type steers were grazed at 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 ha-1 on a Paspalum dilatatum dominant pasture for three years at Bringelly, New South Wales. There were large differences in mean daily liveweight gain between replicates; sometimes steers at the lowest stocking rate had a lower mean daily liveweight gain than those run at higher stocking rates. The mean plasma copper concentration varied from 0.28 to 0.41 �g ml-1 for the steers on the plots having a low liveweight gain and 0.50 to 0.87 for steers a with higher daily gain. The mean liver copper content varied from 11 to 46 mg kg-1. The copper concentration in the pasture ranged from 7 to 16 mg kg-1. The range in molybdenum concentration was from 0.08 to 0.38 mg kg-1. The plasma and liver copper data suggest that some of the poorer performance may have been due to copper deficiency in the animals but this was not caused by the low levels of copper in the pasture nor induced by high levels of molybdenum.

Studies in the prophylaxis of induced copper deficiency in sheep grazing reseeded hill pastures

1983 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Whitelaw ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
R. H. Armstrong ◽  
C. C. Evans ◽  
A. R. Fawcett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Single Injection ◽  
Cupric Oxide ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Liver Copper

ABSTRACTThe paper reports an experiment conducted with 50 Scottish Blackface and 10 South Country Cheviot ewes all suckling twin lambs and grazing, from parturition for some 18 weeks, pasture previously shown to cause a molybdenum-sulphur induced copper deficiency. The objectives were to examine the efficacy of various means of prophylaxis and the susceptibility of the two genotypes to copper deficiency.The treatment of ewes at parturition with copper, either as an injection of 90 mg copper as copper methionate or orally with cupric oxide needles (3·2 g copper), delayed the onset of signs of copper deficiency in their lambs but did not prevent completely the development of hypocupraemia or hypocuprosis.The treatment of lambs with a single injection of 15 mg copper as copper calcium edetate at about 6 or 10 weeks of age was not effective in preventing the development of hypocupraemia. Four injections (1 × 5 mg and 3 × 15 mg) at approximately equal intervals maintained normocupraemic values in lambs, but the most effective treatment, as judged by plasma and liver copper concentrations and by live-weight gain, was the administration of cupric oxide needles (1.6 g copper) to lambs at about 6 weeks of age.The between-genotype comparison indicated that the Cheviot ewes and their lambs were as severely affected by the induced copper deficiency as were the Blackfaces.

scholarly journals The nutrition of the veal calf

1971 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. B. Roy ◽  
I. J. F. Stobo ◽  
Helen J. Gaston ◽  
P. Ganderton ◽  
Susan M. Shotton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Carotenoid Content ◽  
Lung Lesions ◽  
Slaughter Weight ◽  
Total Intake ◽  
Veal Calf ◽  
Milk Substitute

1. Eighteen bull calves, comprising twelve Ayrshires, three Friesians and three Jerseys were reared from birth to a slaughter weight equivalent to 22 % of mature cow weight of the breed.2. All the calves were given a milk substitute diet ad lib. in two feeds daily. Six of the calves received this diet alone and the remaining twelve calves were offered roughage ad lib. from I week of age, either as meadow hay or as barley straw. The calf-house was maintained at a mean temperature of 23' and a mean relative humidity of 62 %.3. The mean total intake of meadow hay and barley straw over the experimental period of about 12 weeks was 3.0 kg and 0.4 kg respectively. Only three calves were consuming any meadow hay and only two calves any barley straw at 7 weeks of age.4. The roughage consumed had no effect on the incidence of diarrhoea, on dry-matter intake from milk or on live-weight gain. All the calves offered meadow hay had lung lesions at slaughter. Severity of lung lesions in the Jersey and Friesian calves combined, but not in the Ayrshires, tended to be inversely related to the relative humidity to which they were exposed.5. Dressed carcass weight and killing out percentage tended to be lower for the calves offered meadow hay. There was a highly significant inverse relationship between total intake of hay and killing out percentage. Perirenal fat depositionin relation to carcass weight was significantly lower and carotenoid content of the fat significantly higher for the calves offered the meadow hay. Skin weight per unit of slaughter weight 0.78 or carcass weight OJ* was significantly greater for the calves given the milk substitute diet only.6. It is concluded that the calf shows very little desire to eat roughage when given a good- quality milk substitute diet ad lib. and that, even when the amounts of roughage consumed are small, this has a deleterious effect on carcass quality.

The effect of molybdenum, iron and sulphur supplementation on growth rate and copper status of lambs

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 140-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.L. Williams ◽  
A.M. Mackenzie ◽  
D.V. Illingworth ◽  
R.G. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Copper Metabolism ◽  
Copper Absorption ◽  
Copper Status ◽  
Biochemical Indicator ◽  
Plasma Copper ◽  
And Performance

For sheep and cattle, primary copper deficiency may occur due to a lack of copper within the feed or soil, whereas secondary copper deficiency may occur in the presence of a combination of high dietary levels of molybdenum (Mo), sulphur (S) and/or iron (Fe). This is due to the anaerobic interactions within the rumen (Phillippo et al., 1987) resulting in thiomolybdate production. Recent work suggests that iron may play a significant role in copper absorption. Mackenzie et al. (1997) proposed that a caeruloplasmin to plasma copper ratio may provide a more accurate biochemical indicator of copper status than other current techniques of assessment. A low ratio may suggest that thiomolybdate is being absorbed into the blood which reduces activity of the copper enzymes. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of molybdenum and iron in the presence of sulphur on the copper status and performance of intensively reared lambs, and to predict the accuracy of this ratio when assessing the effects of molybdenum or iron on copper metabolism.

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