Forage trace element report

[ford4000]

Went to our sheep group meeting today for a talk from Chris Williams of Clinwil nutrition services on trace elements, and to have the results of our grass samples.
A very interesting if quite complicated topic.
I always knew we were low in copper, but bloods when tested were surprisingly high in copper which puzzled me. It was explained today that me taking the lambs down to the vets in the trailer would have stressed them and raised the copper levels! ! Nothing is simple! !

The results from one of my samples

 

[neilo]

That moly level could well be locking up the copper that is shown in blood tests. It could be in the blood but almost totally unavailable (been there). Not sure on the ‘raised levels from trailering’ story though.

 

[ford4000]

That moly level could well be locking up the copper that is shown in blood tests. It could be in the blood but almost totally unavailable (been there). Not sure on the ‘raised levels from trailering’ story though.

How else would you explain slightly high levels of copper in the blood tests then if the grass is low ? I chose drenches without copper last year because of that blood test. .....[emoji21]

 

[neilo]

How else would you explain slightly high levels of copper in the blood tests then if the grass is low ? I chose drenches without copper last year because of that blood test. .....[emoji21]

Whenever i’ve Done bloods the copper levels seem to be all over the shop. If I test half a dozen there are usually two that have the vet jittery, a couple very low and a couple somewhere in the middle. It doesn’t appear to be a very reliable method of testing for copper IME.

As i’ve Posted before, I have had lambs dieing of copper deficiency whilst coming back as OK for copper in bloods. Moly levels in forage were similar to the level on your picture. Copper supplementation with blouses has transformed production (as did a drench, for a brief time).

Of course a cynic might suggest that the chart you posted is a mineral salesman’s dream, especially if it was performed/sponsored by said mineral salesman. Short on everything other than antagonists.....

 

[ford4000]

The thought had crossed my mind, and I'm very tempted to send samples from the same fields to another laboratory to make sure.

Blood tests did show low selenium and cobalt though, and I remember lambs with swayback when I was young so there must be a deficiency

 

[Yale]

Which sheep group are you in @ford4000 ?

 

[ford4000]

Farming connect thing , Vale of clwyd sort of area

 

[beardface]

Look similar to a lot of my ground. Blood tested last year as a follow up to couple years previous and to see if 12 month boluses were working. Copper low in lambs. Have gone for bolus including copper in ewes this year and lambs look better for it. Will bolus lambs with a copper one pre weaning. Some ewes were ample in copper on bloods but bit extra hasn’t killed them yet and fleeces are brighter and ewes generally look well for it

 

[ollie989898]

Hugely complex subject, trace element metabolism. Selling minerals and buckets however, is rather simpler all too often... be very careful what you buy and seek expert advice.