Had my partial results back today, took advice (neilo
)and tested for iodine too.
Thought it may be of interest.
Any comments welcome.
Going to get some potassium iodide but unsure of which mineral drench.
Ewe Trace Element Analysis
Blood Analysis
Animal
717
732
226
509
Normal
Notes
Selenium
GSHPx
91
optimal
63
Opt.
61
Opt.
78
Opt.
>20
Indicates status over past 6-8 weeks. Over-supplementation not a concern in sheep.
Plasma selenium
0.95
Opt.
0.83
Opt.
0.7
Opt.
0.77
Opt.
>0.5
Short term intake reflection
Status change
Measuring the change between GSHPx and plasma selenium to predict change
Copper
Caeruloplasmin
17.8
Norm
17.4
Norm
15.4
Norm.
16.9
Norm.
15-35
Measures the activity of the copper containing enzyme. Can be raised during inflammation. Reflects the last week.
Plasma copper
11.2
Marg.
12.1
Norm.
10
Marg.
11.3
Marg.
12-19
Copper content of the blood, doesn't indicates if copper is functional. Gives reflection of copper over the last week
Caeruplasmin: plasma
1.6
1.4
1.5
1.5
>2
Only valid if plasma concentration marginal or normal. Ratio <1.7 indicates a thiomolybdenate problem, <1.5 indicates serious thio challenge, < is a serious thio problem. Reflects the last week
Superoxide disumtase
Marginal levels between 1800-2000. Slightly longer term indication of copper status
Zinc
Plasma
11.9
12.3
10.4
10.1
>12.3
Levels can be low due to dietary insufficiency or stress and infection
Cobalt
Plasma
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.4
>5
low <3, marginal <5 indicate prolonged cobalt status
Iodine
PII
33
28
23
31
100-200
Indicates recent iodine supply
Summary
Iodine levels consistently low in all animals
Plan
Homemade drench: 28g potassium iodide in 1 litre water, give each ewe 10ml; do this at tupping, 2 months after tupping, 8w pre-lambing, 4w pre-lambing
Other option: boluses or combination drenches
Trace Elements
Cobalt
Function
Rumen microbes use it to produce B12 which is needed for energy and protein metabolism and red blood cell production
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: decreased appetite, poor condition, weepy eyes and open fleece
Moderate: Poor performance, infertility, diarrhoea, pica (eating non food items), anaemia
Possible: muscular disease
Most at risk
Lambs due to higher energy demands
Requirements
Pasture levels >0.08mg/kg DM
Diet 0.1mg/kg DM
Deficiency
Blood B12 <0.2ug
Diet
Pasture: Deficiency more likely in iron rich, alkaline, and manganese soil
Clover typically contains higher concentrations than rye grass
Willow tree high in cobalt
High rainfall reduces levels in soils
High pasture growth dilutes concentration in pasture
Diagnosis
Blood or liver sampling; pasture analysis
Treatment
Increase diet levels; drench every 3-4 weeks; rumen bolus; injections
Copper
Function
Essential for enzymes for normal bodily functions;
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: skin/hair
Moderate: poor performance, poor appetite, poor condition, poor immunity, infertility, anaemia, muscular disease, lameness, weak bones, diarrhoea, pica
Possible:
Toxicity
When liver overloaded, it gets dumped into the bloodstream and causes damage to red blood cells, liver tissue and then death.
Requirements
10mg/kg DM; max 17mg/kg DM
Sulphur, molybdenum and iron can bind to it and reduce absorption
Diet
More readily available from cereals and concentrates
Diagnosis
Liver samples are the most reliable; blood sampling can give some indication
Treatment
Concentrate feeds; bolus; drench
Selenium
Function
Protect tissues and cells; produce thyroid hormone; immunity;
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: poor immunity, muscular disease
Moderate: poor performance, infertility, abortions, retained placenta or vaginal prolapse, diarrhoea
Possible: poor condition
Toxicity
Absorbed efficiently from diet so excess amounts can be toxic. Symptoms include: colic, diarrhoea, collapse, death
Most at risk
Pregnant ewes
Requirements
0.1-0.2 mg/kgDM
Diet
Grass gives 0.04-0.08mg/kg DM; clovers can be less
Diagnosis
Blood: GSHPx – 6 week measure; plasma selenium – 1 week measure;
Liver: 6 month status
Treatment
Drenches last at least 2 weeks; boluses; injections; pasture application
Iodine
Function
Energy metabolism; foetal growth and development; protein production, appetite control, adaptation to temperature changes; brown fat metabolism in newborns
Symptoms of deficiency
Fertility, poor scanning %; late term abortions, still or weak newborns; reduced appetite and performance;
Toxicity
Over-supply in late pregnancy can lead to lamb deaths in first 48 hours; common cause is overfeeding iodine after bolusing
Requirements
0.2mg/kg DM in growing animals; 0.5mg/kg DM in pregnant animals
Diet
Pasture: usually 0.15mg/kg; grazing brassicas interferes with iodine and raises requirements
Diagnosis
Enlarged thyroid in newborns;
Treatment
Oral drenches; rumen bolus; injections
)and tested for iodine too.Thought it may be of interest.
Any comments welcome.
Going to get some potassium iodide but unsure of which mineral drench.
Ewe Trace Element Analysis
Blood Analysis
Animal
717
732
226
509
Normal
Notes
Selenium
GSHPx
91
optimal
63
Opt.
61
Opt.
78
Opt.
>20
Indicates status over past 6-8 weeks. Over-supplementation not a concern in sheep.
Plasma selenium
0.95
Opt.
0.83
Opt.
0.7
Opt.
0.77
Opt.
>0.5
Short term intake reflection
Status change
Measuring the change between GSHPx and plasma selenium to predict change
Copper
Caeruloplasmin
17.8
Norm
17.4
Norm
15.4
Norm.
16.9
Norm.
15-35
Measures the activity of the copper containing enzyme. Can be raised during inflammation. Reflects the last week.
Plasma copper
11.2
Marg.
12.1
Norm.
10
Marg.
11.3
Marg.
12-19
Copper content of the blood, doesn't indicates if copper is functional. Gives reflection of copper over the last week
Caeruplasmin: plasma
1.6
1.4
1.5
1.5
>2
Only valid if plasma concentration marginal or normal. Ratio <1.7 indicates a thiomolybdenate problem, <1.5 indicates serious thio challenge, < is a serious thio problem. Reflects the last week
Superoxide disumtase
Marginal levels between 1800-2000. Slightly longer term indication of copper status
Zinc
Plasma
11.9
12.3
10.4
10.1
>12.3
Levels can be low due to dietary insufficiency or stress and infection
Cobalt
Plasma
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.4
>5
low <3, marginal <5 indicate prolonged cobalt status
Iodine
PII
33
28
23
31
100-200
Indicates recent iodine supply
Summary
Iodine levels consistently low in all animals
Plan
Homemade drench: 28g potassium iodide in 1 litre water, give each ewe 10ml; do this at tupping, 2 months after tupping, 8w pre-lambing, 4w pre-lambing
Other option: boluses or combination drenches
Trace Elements
Cobalt
Function
Rumen microbes use it to produce B12 which is needed for energy and protein metabolism and red blood cell production
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: decreased appetite, poor condition, weepy eyes and open fleece
Moderate: Poor performance, infertility, diarrhoea, pica (eating non food items), anaemia
Possible: muscular disease
Most at risk
Lambs due to higher energy demands
Requirements
Pasture levels >0.08mg/kg DM
Diet 0.1mg/kg DM
Deficiency
Blood B12 <0.2ug
Diet
Pasture: Deficiency more likely in iron rich, alkaline, and manganese soil
Clover typically contains higher concentrations than rye grass
Willow tree high in cobalt
High rainfall reduces levels in soils
High pasture growth dilutes concentration in pasture
Diagnosis
Blood or liver sampling; pasture analysis
Treatment
Increase diet levels; drench every 3-4 weeks; rumen bolus; injections
Copper
Function
Essential for enzymes for normal bodily functions;
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: skin/hair
Moderate: poor performance, poor appetite, poor condition, poor immunity, infertility, anaemia, muscular disease, lameness, weak bones, diarrhoea, pica
Possible:
Toxicity
When liver overloaded, it gets dumped into the bloodstream and causes damage to red blood cells, liver tissue and then death.
Requirements
10mg/kg DM; max 17mg/kg DM
Sulphur, molybdenum and iron can bind to it and reduce absorption
Diet
More readily available from cereals and concentrates
Diagnosis
Liver samples are the most reliable; blood sampling can give some indication
Treatment
Concentrate feeds; bolus; drench
Selenium
Function
Protect tissues and cells; produce thyroid hormone; immunity;
Symptoms of deficiency
Severe: poor immunity, muscular disease
Moderate: poor performance, infertility, abortions, retained placenta or vaginal prolapse, diarrhoea
Possible: poor condition
Toxicity
Absorbed efficiently from diet so excess amounts can be toxic. Symptoms include: colic, diarrhoea, collapse, death
Most at risk
Pregnant ewes
Requirements
0.1-0.2 mg/kgDM
Diet
Grass gives 0.04-0.08mg/kg DM; clovers can be less
Diagnosis
Blood: GSHPx – 6 week measure; plasma selenium – 1 week measure;
Liver: 6 month status
Treatment
Drenches last at least 2 weeks; boluses; injections; pasture application
Iodine
Function
Energy metabolism; foetal growth and development; protein production, appetite control, adaptation to temperature changes; brown fat metabolism in newborns
Symptoms of deficiency
Fertility, poor scanning %; late term abortions, still or weak newborns; reduced appetite and performance;
Toxicity
Over-supply in late pregnancy can lead to lamb deaths in first 48 hours; common cause is overfeeding iodine after bolusing
Requirements
0.2mg/kg DM in growing animals; 0.5mg/kg DM in pregnant animals
Diet
Pasture: usually 0.15mg/kg; grazing brassicas interferes with iodine and raises requirements
Diagnosis
Enlarged thyroid in newborns;
Treatment
Oral drenches; rumen bolus; injections
