A study of high lamb liver copper concentrations on some farms in Otago and Southland

Authors: Clark RG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 43, Issue 4, pp 141-145, Aug 1995
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Copper, Trace elements, Diet/rations/food, Liver/hepatic disease, Nutrition/metabolism, Poisoning - chemical
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Lamb copper status is commonly assessed by measuring copper concentrations in four liver samples collected from lines of lambs sent to meat slaughtering premises. High liver copper concentrations were found in lambs examined in April and May. Five farms with two or more lamb liver copper concentrations greater than 3000 μmol/kg on a wet matter basis and two farms with adequate copper concentrations but less than 3000 μmollkg in the autumn of 1992 were selected for a more detailed investigation into the factors affecting their lamb copper status in 1993. High liver copper status was associated with low pasture molybdenum, grazing paddocks recently topdressed with copper sulphate, supplementing with mineralised drenches and copperised salt licks, and the high copper content in chicory. Lamb liver copper concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the autumn than in the summer on two of three farms.

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