The effect of copper treatment on the performance of hypocupraemic calves

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. Seven experiments involving 191 calves and 40 cows were under- taken over a 2-year period into the effect of copper treatment of hypocupraemic calves on their subsequent performance.2. Significant increases in mean live-weight gain of copper-treated calves ranging from 19·9 to 34·3 kg/head relative to untreated control groups were obtained in three cases.3. The frequency of copper injection required to maintain plasma copper levels above 0·60 mg/1 varied from 6 to 12 weeks.4. The live-weight gain and plasma copper concentration responses are discussed in relation to the pasture herbage concentrations of copper, molybdenum and sulphate.

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

“…A previous experiment on the same site with similar animals (Givens et al 1982) did produce a significant increase in growth rate due to regular copper injections although herbage copper values were lower at that time and control calves became more severely hypocupraemic. The uncertainty of obtaining a production response even in hypocupraemic animals has been observed and discussed many times previously (MacPherson, Voss & Dixon, 1979;Suttle et al 1980;Givens et al 1981). Clearly the use of copper-containing glass boluses, like other methods of supplementation, does not guarantee a production increase.…”