Trace elements in cattle (& sheep)

Question 1

List some deficiency elements

Answer 1

Selenium
Cobalt
Zinc
Iodine

Question 2

List some toxic elements

Answer 2

Copper
Selenium
Iodine
Cobalt
Lead

Question 3

Sway back is caused by a deficiency in?

Answer 3

Copper

Question 4

Selenium deficiency causes which disease?

Answer 4

White muscle disease

Question 5

Iodine deficiency causes?

Answer 5

Weak neonates

Question 6

List some sources of trace elements

Answer 6

• Grass
• Forages
• Straight feed materials
• Compound feeds (complete & complementary)
• Blends (supplemented or not)
• In-feed minerals
• Pasture & soil
• Concentrates

Question 7

Which group of animals are least at risk of trace element deficiencies?

Answer 7

Dairy cows receiving concentrates

Question 8

Maximum Permitted Levels of minerals in complete diet were established for additives assessed to be a safety risk to?

Answer 8

Animals
Consumers
Environment
Users

Question 9

Where is copper stored in the body?

Answer 9

Liver

Question 10

Copper toxicity leads to?

Answer 10

Haemolytic crisis - jaundice and death

Question 11

Describe genetic susceptibility to deficiency & toxicity in the following sheep breeds:
1. Texel
2. North Ronaldsey
3. Scottish blackface

Answer 11

1. susceptible to Toxicity but not deficiency
2. very sensitive to toxicity
3. susceptible to deficiency but not toxicity

Question 12

Which of the following silages has the most and least copper availability:
- Grass silage
- Maize silage
- Whole crop silage

Answer 12

• Grass silage = LEAST
• Maize silage = MOST
• Whole crop silage

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of iron induced low copper status?

Answer 13

No clinical signs

Question 14

How can you assess liver copper status?

Answer 14

• Liver from cull cows
• Liver biopsy

Question 15

Describe how you would carry out a liver biopsy in a cow

Answer 15

Very easy and safe
R flank
Biopsy needle
Rib space 11

Question 16

By what methods can copper be supplemented?

Answer 16

• Pasture dressings
• S/C injections
• Intra-ruminal bolus

Question 17

How might over supplementation of copper occur in ruminants?

Answer 17

• Multiple supplementary feeds
• Compound feeds
• Supplemented blends
• Free access minerals
• Licks
• Boluses
• Drenches: anthelmintics may contain trace elements

Question 18

What are the effects of zinc deficiency?

Answer 18

• Congenital abnormalities
• Immune function effects: endometritis, mastitis
• Hoof, horn and hair integrity
• Teat keratin plug

Question 19

What are the effects of selenium deficiency?

Answer 19

• White muscle disease
• Ill thrift
• Retained placenta
• Impaired immune function
• Poor fertility
• Affected thyroid function

Question 20

What are the acute and chronic effects of selenium toxicity?

Answer 20

• Acute = blind staggers
• Chronic = alkali disease - dull, lack of vitality, rough coat, hair loss, sloughing of hooves, lame, sudden death

Question 21

Iodine has a vital role in the function of?

Answer 21

The thyroid gland

Question 22

What are the effects of iodine deficiency in cattle?

Answer 22

Reproductive symptoms
- Lowered conception rates, irregular oestrus/anoestrus
- Retained placenta
- Cystic ovaries
- Abortions
- Still births, birth of weak and/or hairless calves (thyroid in fetus)
- Loss of libido in males

Question 23

How is cobalt used in the body?

Answer 23

As cobalamin (vitamin B12)

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of cobalt deficiency?

Answer 24

Develop over weeks/months
- Poor appetite
- Reduced growth
- Anaemia
- Skin thins with poor hair quality

Question 25

How is cobalt deficiency diagnosed?

Answer 25

Utilised mainly as Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) - No point measuring blood Cobalt
Milk B12
Liver B12