Weight responses of young sheep to copper, and connective tissue lesions associated with the grazing of pastures of high molybdenum content

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Abstract
Four groups of young sheep were grazed from April to October 1969 on pastures that–8 ppm D.M. during most of the trial period, but rose rapidly to approximately 20 ppm during August. Group 1 sheep (control) received no experimental treatment; Group 2 received oral supplements of selenium as sodium selenite; Group 3 received a supplement of a copper compound (cuproxoline) given subcutaneously; Group 4 received supplements of both selenium and copper. Except for an apparent weight response to selenium within the period of the trial (although not at its end), and a doubtful effect of selenium in preventing bone fragility in sheep not given copper, no responses to selenium treatments were noted. In the copper-treated sheep mean values for blood haemoglobin and packed-cell volume were significantly higher, and mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly lower, than corresponding values for sheep not given copper. Of 17 sheep in the non-copper groups, 5 had connective tissue lesions, associated mainly with the humerus. Of 18 sheep in the copper groups, one showed similar lesions. The lesions were characterised by lifting and haemorrhage of the periosteum and of the muscle insertions, and sometimes spontaneous fractures. Over the trial period mean wool weights and body-weight gains for the copper groups were significantly greater than the corresponding values for the groups not given copper.

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