Hepatic copper concentration of steers grazing pastures on developed wet heath land in south-eastern Queensland

Abstract

A 2 X 2 factorial design was used to investigate the effects of copper and cobalt therapy of Hereford steers grazing Lotononis-Pangola pastures on the wet heath areas of coastal south-eastern Queensland. Copper was given as a subcutaneous injection of copper glycinate and cobalt as an intra- ruminal cobalt oxide pellet. Liver samples were obtained at three-monthly intervals for 18 months. The liver copper concentration of untreated animals decreased to low levels (<10 p.p.m.). Copper therapy increased (P<0.01) and cobalt therapy decreased (P<0.01) liver copper levels. There were, however, no significant differences in bodyweight gains.