Trace element deficiencies Flashcards
Why are dairy cows less at risk of trace element deficiencies?
Fed concentrates
Concentrates increase trace element absorption from SI
Cobalt deficiency is more common in sheep than cattle. What are the clinical signs?
Reduced growth
Wool changes
Cobalt is mainly utilised as which element? Where is it stored
Cobalamin B12
Stored in liver (may be delay up to 1 yr before clinical signs)
What is Swayback and what causes it?
Copper deficiency in lambs
Due to copper deficiency of ewe during pregnancy
Where is copper stored in the body? How is copper deficiency diagnosed?
Stored in liver
Diagnosed by liver biopsy or PM
Copper toxicity can cause haemolysis, jaundice and death. What breeds are susceptible?
North Ronaldsay
Scottish Blackface
Texel
How is copper deficiency treated/prevented?
Feed ewes high copper diet during pregnancy - supplements with pasture dressing
SC injections
Intraruminal boluses
What deficiency causes weak neonates with goitre and reproductive problems in adults?
Iodine deficiency
How is iodine deficiency diagnosed?
T4, T3, TSH
Thyroid hyperplasia - weight on PM should be <3% BW
Goitre histopath
What deficiency causes cyanotic mucus membranes, white muscle disease, still births and weak calf syndrome?
Selenium
How is selenium deficiency diagnosed?
GSHPx enzyme
Blood
Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease, myopathies , ill thrift, retained placentas and poor fertility. What does selenium toxicity cause? (acute and chronic)
Acute - blind staggers
Chronic - Alkali disease
What deficiency causes congenital abnormalities, endometritis, mastitis and altered hoof/hair/horn (due to keratin)?
Zinc deficiency
A lamb prevents with poor coat quality, poor thrift, jaundice, a non-regenerative anaemia and photosensitisation. What is the most likely deficiency?
Copper
An animal presents with poor thrift, reduced appetite, a non-regnerative anaemia, reduced fertility and thin skin. What is the most likely deficiency?
Cobalt deficiency
