Mineral balance
Over-feeding copper can result in copper toxicity and death.
Some dairy farmers may be over feeding copper, according to a recent study carried out by Harper Adams University.
The DairyCo-funded study of 50 farms found that copper, along with several other minerals, were being over-fed during the winter, while some farms were underfeeding certain minerals.
Of the 50 farms, 31 were feeding above the maximum recommended level of copper and four of them were feeding double that figure.
According to Professor Liam Sinclair from Harper Adam’s University, determining the mineral status of dairy cows varies from mineral to mineral, but conducting an analysis of forage and feed is often a good starting point.
“This is relatively inexpensive and a good indicator of potential problems for various minerals. In the case of copper, a blood sample is useful to determine whether an animal is deficient.
“A liver biopsy or analysis of copper levels from the liver of cull cows can be more useful to indicate whether the cows are being fed excess amounts.”
He says as minerals can be supplied from a variety of sources, it is particularly important one person has overall responsibility for the mineral nutrition on-farm.
