The potential toxicity of copper-rich animal excreta to sheep

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. The true availability of Cu in animal excreta and pasture dressed with excreta was assessed in three experiments from the responses in plasma Cu concentration of initially hypocupraemic ewes repleted with diets containing different Cu sources.2. Herbage from a sward treated with Cu-rich pig slurry contained a larger proportion of available Cu than untreated herbage (0·058 v. 0·047; PP < 0·05).4. Treatment with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid extracted 64·3 % and 78·3% of the Cu in DPW and DPS, respectively.5. The Cu toxicity hazard associated with the recycling of animal excreta of high Cu content is discussed.