Production responses of sheep supplemented with copper, cobalt and selenium on kikuyu ryegrass pastures

The copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) status of SA Mutton Merino ewes grazing kikuyu-ryegrass pastures was investigated by analysing blood and liver samples. The response of ewes to oral supplementation with Cu, Cobalt (Co) and Se as single elements, or in 4 combinations were simultaneously assessed in...

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Published inJournal of the South African Veterinary Association Vol. 65; no. 2; p. 52
Main Authors Cloete, S W, van Niekerk, F E, Kritzinger, N M, van der Merwe, G D, Heine, E W, Scholtz, A J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published South Africa 01.06.1994
Subjects
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Breeding
Cobalt - administration & dosage
Copper - administration & dosage
Female
Food, Fortified
Liver - chemistry
Seasons
Selenium - administration & dosage
Sheep - growth & development
Sheep - physiology
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Summary:The copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) status of SA Mutton Merino ewes grazing kikuyu-ryegrass pastures was investigated by analysing blood and liver samples. The response of ewes to oral supplementation with Cu, Cobalt (Co) and Se as single elements, or in 4 combinations were simultaneously assessed in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment. Pastures grazed were low in Cu (less than 5 mg Cu/kg DM) except for the summer months, while pasture Se concentrations remained at concentrations less than 0,03 mg Se/kg DM for almost the entire period. Plasma Cu concentrations remained in excess of 80 micrograms/dl until pasture Cu concentrations decreased below 5 mg/kg DM. Blood Se concentrations generally reflected liver Se concentrations. Supplementation of ewes with 5 g Cu oxide needles (Embamin Copper LA, Rhône Poulenc) markedly increased (P < or = 0,01) hepatic Cu and plasma Cu concentrations. The monthly drenching of ewes with 5 mg Se as sodium selenite elevated blood Se concentrations to normal levels in excess of 100 ng/ml while ewes not supplemented with Se had blood Se concentrations indicative of a deficiency (50-100 ng/ml). Supplementation of ewes with Cu and Se elevated (P < or = 0,05) concentrations of these trace elements in the plasma and blood of their progeny. Supplementation of ewes with Cu and Se resulted in respective improvements (P < or = 0,05) of 5,3 and 4,8% in live mass during lactation, compared to contemporaries which did not receive either Cu or Se.
ISSN:1019-9128