Trace Element Deficiencies

Question 1

What are the different trace elements?

Answer 1

Cu, Co, Vitamin E/Selenium, Iodine

Fe, Mn, Nz

Question 2

How can a TE deficinecy occur?

Answer 2

Lack of them in the soil/plants (primary)

Lack of absorption (secondary)

Question 3

What is the role of cobalt?

Answer 3

It makes up part of vitamin B12 (microbes incorporate it into B12) which is a component in the CAC and in the proprionate to glucose pathway. Therefore a deficiency in this will cause poor thrift.

Question 4

What are the more severe clinical signs of cobalt deficiency?

Answer 4

Eye discharges/epihora/cheek staining

Anaemia/pale MMs

Question 5

How is cobalt deficiency diagnosed?

Answer 5

• Blood B12 assay
• Urine methylmelanoic acid
• Liver samples
• Supplementation trial

Question 6

Why are selenium and vitamin E important?

Answer 6

Act as cellular antioxidants and help maintain resistance to infections.

Question 7

What are the clinical and subclinical diseases that result from Se/Vit E deficiency?

Answer 7

Clinical - White muscle disease

Subclinical:

• Poor growth rates
• Embryonic deaths
• Disease susceptibility

Question 8

How can a deficiency in Se/VitE be Dx?

Answer 8

Blood glutathione peroxidase reduced
Creatine Kinase (acute indicator of muscle damage)
Vitamin E blood assay
Histopathology of susceptible tissues

Question 9

Why should one be very careful with copper supplementation?

Answer 9

It is extremely toxic to sheep and even more so to goats. It is also toxic to cattle but not as bas as in the small ruminants.

Question 10

What signs might copper deficiency produce?

Answer 10

Poor coat colour, poor thrift, diarrhoea, swayback, bone fragility

Question 11

What organ should be looked at to Dx Cu toxicity?

Answer 11

The kidney - would have a gunmetal grey appearance

Question 12

What is the sub clinical consequence of Iodine deficiency?

Answer 12

Still births and poor thrift/viability at a very young age/in neonates.

Question 13

What groups of animals commonly suffer from poor growth as a result of the following mineral deficiencies?

a) Se
b) Co
c) Cu

Answer 13

a) all spp.
b) lambs
c) cattle

Question 14

What should be considered when deciding whether to implement a supplementation program?

Answer 14

Whether the farm is going to benefit economically from the supplementation i.e. is it actually going to be cost-effective