Toxicity of zinc in ruminants in relation to facial eczema

Authors: Smith BL
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 25, Issue 11, pp 310-312, Nov 1977
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Mycotoxicosis, Liver/hepatic disease, Fungal/yeast, Photosensitivity, Toxicology, Poisoning - chemical, Trace elements, Minerals/elememts
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: The toxicity of zinc salts to ruminants has been studied by Ott et al. and others. In much of this work zinc has been incorporated in the feed, a situation more applicable to intensive feedlot farming rather than the New Zealand pastoral situation, or the zinc has been fed for limited periods of time with the possibility that the full potential of zinc for causing toxicity has not been realised. It has been shown that the administration of zinc salts to animals can prevent poisoning by such toxins as carbon tetrachloride, nitrogen dioxide, hyperbaric oxygen and ethanol. More recently it has been shown that high doses of zinc can prevent experimental and natural sporidesmin poisoning in ruminants when given concurrently with the toxin. Because of the high dose rates (approximately x 20 daily requirements) and the fact that the finding is of some promise in the control of facial eczema, a study of the toxicity of zinc to ruminants has been commenced. For reasons of economy and safety it was decided initially to investigate zinc sulphate toxicity by daily hand-dosing of sheep.

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