Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T01:00:07.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of soluble glass rumen boluses to provide a supplement of copper for suckled calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. I. Givens ,
G. Zervas ,
V. R. Simpson  and
S. B. Telfer
D. I. Givens
Affiliation:
Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, Nutrition Chemistry Department, Starcross, Exeter, Devon
G. Zervas
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds
V. R. Simpson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Development and Advisory Service Veterinary Investigation Centre, Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall
S. B. Telfer
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

An experiment was carried out on a site where the copper content of herbage was relatively low (4·7–6·2 mg/kg d.m.) to examine the value of copper contained in soluble glass rumen boluses as a means of providing supplementary copper to calves.

Forty-five spring-born suckled calves (mean live weight 91 kg) were divided into three groups on the basis of body weight. Animals in group GB were given two boluses initially, those in group CI each received copper injections at approximately monthly intervals and those in group C remained as controls throughout. Group C calves became progressively hypocupraemic (minimum mean plasma copper 8·5 μmol/1) compared with those in groups GB and CI which showed an increase in plasma copper concentration. In addition measurements of plasma caeruloplasmin activity, blood haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity all showed significant increases due to treatment. No response in live-weight gain was observed but overall live-weight gain was approximately 1·05 kg/day. Although the initial response in plasma copper was quicker with copper injections, measurements of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and haemoglobin showed advantages of glass boluses not shared by copper injections. This possibly resulted from the slow release nature of copper in the glass. Under the conditions of the experiment where herbage molybdenum values were relatively low (1·2–1·9 mg/kg d.m.), copper contained in soluble glass boluses appeared to prevent hypocupraemia in calves as effectively as regular copper injections.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 110 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 199 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, W. M., Sampson, B. F., Gleed, P. T., Mallinson, C. B. & Drake, C. E. (1984). Boluses of controlled release glass for supplementing ruminants with copper. Veterinary Record 115, 55–57.Google Scholar
Andrewartha, K. A. & Caple, W. W. (1980). Effects of changes in nutritional copper on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in sheep. Research in Veterinary Science 28, 101–104.Google Scholar
Anon. (1986). U.K. Patent No. 2116424, held by University of Leeds Industrial Services Ltd.Google Scholar
Givens, D. I., Hopkins, J. R., Brown, M. E. & Walsh, W. A. (1981). The effect of copper therapy on the growth rate and blood composition of young growing cattle. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 97, 497–505.Google Scholar
Givens, D. I. & Simpson, V. R. (1983). Serum vitamin B12 concentrations in growing cattle and their relationship with growth rate and cobalt bullet therapy. In Trace Elements in Animal Production and Veterinary Practice. British Society for Animal Production occasional publication No. 7, pp. 145–146.Google Scholar
Givens, D. I., Simpson, V. R. & Stokes, I. H. P. (1982). Report on Experiment 07023. Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, Nutrition Chemistry, South West Region.Google Scholar
Henry, R. J., Cannon, D. C., & Winkelman, J. W. (1974). Clinical Chemistry, 2nd ed.Lippincott: Harper Medical.Google Scholar
Humphries, W. R., Phillippo, M., Young, B. W. & Bremner, I. (1983). The influence of dietary iron and molybdenum on copper metabolism in calves. British Journal of Nutrition 49, 77–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacPherson, A., Voss, R. C. & Dixon, J. (1979). The effect of copper treatment on the performance of hypocupraemic calves. Animal Production 29, 91–99.Google Scholar
MacPherson, A. (1982). Oral Treatment of Trace Element Deficiencies in Ruminant Livestock, British Society for Animal Production occasional publication No 7, pp. 140–141.Google Scholar
McMurray, C. H. (1980). Biological roles of copper. CIBA Federation Symposium No. 79, pp. 183–204.Google Scholar
Mills, C. F., Dalgarno, A. C. & Whenham, G. (1976). Biochemical and pathological changes in tissues of Friesian cattle during the experimental induction of copper deficiency. British Journal of Nutrition 35 (3), 309–331.Google Scholar
Misra, H. P. & Fridovich, I. (1977). Superoxide dismutase photochemical augmentation assay. Archives of Biochemistry 181, 308–312.Google Scholar
Paynter, D. I. (1982). Differences between serum and plasma ceruloplasmin activities and copper concentrations – investigations of possible contributing factors. Australian Journal of Biological Science 35, 353–561.Google Scholar
Suttle, N. F. (1980). Some preliminary observations on the absorbability of copper in fresh and conserved grass to sheep. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 39, 63A.Google Scholar
Suttle, N. F. (1981). The treatment and prevention of copper deficiency in ruminants. In Sheep and Beef Cattle Society of New Zealand Veterinary Association, Proceedings of the Society's 11th Seminar. Massey University, 22–23 05 1981.Google Scholar
Suttle, N. F., Field, A. C., Nicolson, T. B., Mattieson, A. O., Prescott, J. H. D., Scott, N. & Johnson, W. S. (1980). Some problems in assessing the physiological and economic significance of hypocupraemia in beef suckler herds. Veterinary Record 106, 302–304.Google Scholar
Suttle, N. F. & McMurray, C. H. (1982). Erythrocyte Cu:Zn superoxide dismutase activity and hair fleece copper concentrations in the diagnosis of hypocuprosis in ruminants. In Trace Elements in Animal Production and Veterinary Practice. British Society for Animal Production occasional publication No. 7, pp. 134–135.Google Scholar
Telfer, S. B. & Zervas, G. (1982). The release of copper from soluble glass bullets in the reticulo-rumen of sheep. Animal Production 34, 379–380.Google Scholar
Telfer, S. B., Zervas, G. & Carlos, G. (1984). Curing or preventing deficiencies in copper, cobalt and selenium in cattle and sheep using tracerglass. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 64 (Supplement), 234–235.Google Scholar
Telfer, S. B., Zervas, G. & Knott, P. (1983). U.K. Patent Application, GB 2116424A.Google Scholar
Whitelaw, A., Armstrong, R. H., Evans, C. C., Fawcett, A. R., Russel, A. J. F. & Suttle, N. F. (1980). Effects of oral administration of copper oxide needles to hypocupraemic sheep. Veterinary Record 107, 87–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whitelaw, A., Russel, A. J. F., Armstrong, R. H., Evans, C. C., Fawcett, A. R. & MacDonald, A. J. (1983). Use of cupric oxide needles in the prophylaxis of induced copper deficiency in lambs grazing improved hill pastures. Veterinary Record 112, 382–384.Google Scholar
Zervas, G. (1983). Ph.D. thesis, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds.Google Scholar