Trace element nutrition of grazing ruminants. 3. Copper oxide powder as a copper supplement

Abstract

Hepatic copper (Cu) storage was determined in grazing sheep and cattle supplemented with copper oxide powder, oxidized Cu particles or Cu-calcium EDTA. Cu storage was significantly increased when particles or the EDTA complex were given, but responses in hepatic Cu concentration were small in animals given copper oxide powder. Sheep dosed with copper oxide particles retained particles in the abomasum at 44 days from dosing, but those given copper oxide powder did not retain measurable quantities in the abomasum and excreted about half the dose in the faeces within 4 days of administration.