Maternal—Fetal Utilization of Copper by Sheep

Copper and Zinc Nutritional Issues for Agricultural Animal Production

“…Thus, illustrating that the ability to export Cu via the biliary system and protect against Cu toxicity differs between ruminants and non-ruminants [ 12 ]. Using radioactive Cu as oral doses and IV in bred ewes, Moss et al [ 13 ] showed that the amount of Cu deposited in the products of conception increased as the pregnancy progressed. They concluded that a concentration barrier for Cu existed with a syndesmochorial type of placenta found in sheep.…”

Copper deficiency in Creole goat kids

“…Since the fetus's copper requirement constantly increases during the course of gestation, pregnant goats and sheep should receive a copper supplement during the last three months of pregnancy. The copper requirement of a sheep fetus almost increases 6 times between the first third and the second third of gestation and this last level is duplicated in the final third [17]. Williams et al [24] reported that in the non-liver compartment of fetal lambs at the end of pregnancy a little more than 2 mg Cu is deposited/kg live-weight gain.…”

Nutritional factors affecting mineral status and long term carry-over effects in ruminants / by Oswaldo R. Rosero.

“…In species in which placental barriers are strong, such as swine and ruminants, the fetus is partly supplied by absorption with the fetal placenta of the secretion from the uterine glands, i.e., the embryotropic route (Palludan et al, 1969) In cattle, effects of Cu deficiency usually are postnatal while in sheep and goats, symptoms of Cu deficiency often occur in utero (Hidiroglou and Knipfel, 1981) . High Cu content in most newborn animals has suggested placental transfer and storage before birth (Prior, 1964 respectively (Moss et al, 1974). These data indicate a concentration barrier for Cu between the ewe and the fetus in the syndesmochorial type placenta.…”