Copper and Goats – Goat-Link

Copper Deficiency in Pygmy Goats

Carol Raczykowski
Reviewed by Dr. William Holleman

(Reprinted from Pygmy Goat WORLD magazine with
permission)

An article on Copper
Toxicity appeared in the December 1994 issue of The Pygmy Goat WORLD. Copper
deficiency lies at the other end of the spectrum. Some of the medical
terminology and reasoning is similar in both extremes, but the symptoms and
treatment vary greatly.

Many factors contribute to both copper toxicity and deficiency.
Management, breed, age, size, concurrent disease problems, environment (e.g.
weather, stress), mineral components in nutrition (e.g. molybdenum, sulfur,
selenium, and iron), individual metabolism, vaccinations, and general health may
all play a role in copper imbalances. Most important is the intake of copper and
molybdenum, another mineral metal which binds copper. Copper and molybdenum
affect the absorption and excretion of each other. Dr. Patricia Talcott, a
Veterinary Toxicologist with the University of Idaho, states that the normal
ratio in the total diet of copper to molydbenum is 4:1 to 6:1. If more than 3
ppm of molybdenum is present in the diet, copper deficiency may be a very real
threat. Excessive calcium, sulfur and iron may also interfere with copper
absorption.

Copper deficiency can be referred to as neonatal ataxia,
enzootic ataxia, swayback or spectacle disease. These names refer to symptoms
that are common in copper deficiency. The symptoms are directly related to the
essential role that copper plays in a number of metabolic and developmental
functions. Specifically, copper is involved in myelination (protective covering
for nerves), osteogenesis (bone production), hematopoiesis (production of red
blood cells), hair pigmentation (copper-containing enzyme is necessary for
melanin ‘dark pigment’ production) and normal growth. It stands to reason that
without a sufficient amount of copper, these normal functions are hampered.
Resulting symptoms include: ataxia (swaying, staggering) weakness, loss of
pigmentation and decoloration of the hair, anemia, ill thrift, abortion,
decreased milk production, diarrhea, infertility, paralysis with extension of
the hind limbs, muscle wasting, spastic hind limbs, bone fractures, poor
growth and muscle weakness. Copper deficiency can also cause stillborn kids,
kids that are weak or birth, kids that die after birth due to starvation
(failure to nurse) or die after weaning. Coccidiosis and round worm infections
seem to predispose goats to copper deficiency, and pneumonia may become a
secondary problem.

Initial diagnosis can be made based on symptoms but should be
confirmed with diagnostic testing. Low blood (serum) copper levels are not
useful in diagnosis. Concentration of copper in the liver is the best indicator
of copper status, and biopsy of the the liver is the gold standard test. Lesions
may be found postmortem in the brain and spinal cord. Although definitive copper
requirements have not been established for goats, we can extrapolate from other
species. Dr. Patricia Talcott says that a good rule of thumb is that
copper/molybdenum levels should be no higher than 6:1. At higher than 10:1, the
animal is very susceptible to copper toxicity. If the ratio is less than 2:1,
the animal is predisposed to copper deficiency. Ratios are only important in the
total diet, not in tissue samples.

In one recent case, a pygmy goat herd in Western Washington was
copper deficient. The first sign was weight loss in one doe who soon began to
sway and became recumbent. The owners took her to their veterinarian where she
died. Test results showed no mineral toxicity but the doe had coccidiosis, which
seems to go hand-in-hand with copper deficiency. The family was told to treat
the herd with CoRid®, but a short time later they began experiencing severe
losses. Their goats became weak and swayed on their back feet to the point where
they couldn’t stand. They were being fed alfalfa, bluegrass hay and a
corn/oat/barley mix, and they had access to a salt lick and sheep minerals. The
goats were eating but still losing weight even with deworming and coccidia
treatment. Other symptoms that the family noticed were a sweet sick smell before
the animals died, crying due to pain and later, after the correct diagnosis,
they clearly noticed white-colored rings around the eye (pigment loss).
[Editorial note: hair discoloration around the eyes was different than the
normal frosted markings found in Pygmy goats.] Diarrhea was also a factor with
the constant wobbling. After many autopsies and talking with specialists, the
goats were diagnosed with copper deficiency and treated accordingly. The cause
of the copper deficiency in this case was an abundance of lime in the bluegrass
hay and excess sulfur in the water that depleted the animals’ copper. Now, when
the family sees a goat with white rings around the eyes (copper deficiency can
be called spectacle disease due to this hallmark symptom), they know to treat
that animal with copper supplements. The white circles, however, usually do not
appear until the animal has been deficient for some time. This herd has had no
deaths since the diagnosis and treatment for copper deficiency.

As mentioned in the Copper
Toxicity article, copper requirements vary with breed and environment and
depend on dietary molybdenum levels. Recommendations for specific levels of
dietary copper require consideration of environmental factors such as soil
molybdenum concentrations, pasture plant species being grazed, and fertilization
practices. Molybdenum and sulfur reduce available copper. Calcium, cadmium,
iron, and zinc inhibit absorption of copper. Lime, used as fertilizer, also
reduces copper and increases molybdenum uptake by pasture plants. This was part
of the problem in Western Washington. Liming has also caused copper deficiency
in dairy cows on New Zealand pastures. If copper deficiency is suspected, you
may want to get mineral tests on your feed, water and other supplements.

Treatment for copper deficiency depends on the cause. Testing
feeds, water and soils may be necessary to discover if the problem is primary or
secondary. Primary copper deficiency is caused by low copper levels in soil and
forages grown on the soil. Secondary is when normal amounts of copper are
present in soils and feeds but uptake and absorption are impeded by the presence
of copper antagonists such as molybdenum, iron, manganese, cadmium, lead and
sulfates. Treatment is determined by the cause. For example, if copper
deficiency is caused by an abundance of molydbeum, treatment may include
supplementation of copper in the diet. If the goat has been diagnosed with
copper deficiency, supplementing orally may not save its life. Just as with
selenium, in order to raise the level, injections are necessary. Pregnant does
can be given copper glycinate subcutaneously at a does of 150 mg at
mid-gestation to prevent subsequent copper deficiency in kids. Kids can be given
60 mg of copper glycinate subcutaneously at birth if pregnant does were not
treated. Oral copper sulfate in the drinking water has also been used at a dose
of around 1.5 g per head, per week. The point is to supplement with appropriate
amounts of copper. This always seems a bit scary since copper toxicity is also a
problem but as stated earlier, the symptoms for copper toxicity are totally
different than deficiency. Be aware of these symptoms and look at each goat
every day. Noticing any pigment changes, weight loss, or weakness just may save
your herd.

Goats usually get sufficient copper from their daily diet. The
problem arises when something takes place to upset this balance, i.e., high
levels of sulfur or molybdenum in water or feed. It’s a good idea to check with
the person you purchase your feed from to check their fertilizing and growing
practices. Do they lime the soil or use any topical soil treatment that could
harmful to your animals?

Deficiency and toxicity are both deadly copper problems that
bring with them the need to know the make-up of your goats’ diet. Toxicology and
mineral tests are available through many independent laboratories. A very
well-known and helpful authority in the field is:

Dr. Patricia Talcott, Veterinary Toxicologist
Analytical Sciences Laboratory

The Holm Research Center
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83844-2203
Phone: (208) 885-6109

Dr. Talcott works closely with the people at Washington State
University.

Watch for symptoms in your herd. Copper deficiency is a slowly
progressing, chronic problem. By the time you notice symptoms, the animal has
been deficient for some time. Don’t become frustrated with treatment. One shot
will not cure the problem. Just as it took a while for the deficiency to
develop, it will take time to cure it. Being alert for the symptoms could save
time and lives.

Related Reading

Copper Deficiency in
Dairy Goats – Best info, many links
Importance
of Copper for Fertility and Health, by Jackie NixCopper Toxicity