The copper content of wool in relation to breed and the concentrations of copper in the liver and plasma

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Abstract
Little reliable information is available on the range and variability of the copper content of the wool of sheep (Underwood, 1977), although the effect of Cu deficiency on keratinization and pigmentation of wool is well known (Ryder & Stephenson, 1968) and the Cu content of hair has been suggested as a possible aid in diagnosis of hypocuprosis. Results from Kellaway, Sitorus & Leibholz (1978) showed that, in cattle, Cu in hair and plasma decreased in animals when the concentration of Cu in the liver fell below 20 mg/kg D.M. An experiment carried out jointly by the Animal Breeding Research Organisation and the Animal Diseases Research Association to investigate breed differences in the long-term accumulation of Cu in sheep gave an opportunity to investigate both the range of Cu concentrations in wool and the relationship between the Cu content of the liver and wool Cu.