We are seeing more and more

cases of extreme copper levels in

both herds and young stock. From

insidious toxicities to severe

fracture related deficiencies.

As you know the liver is the storage

organ for Copper, when there is too

much copper in the system the

liver becomes overloaded causing

damage to the liver cells with

extensive liver degeneration. The

released copper then floods the

bloodstream annihilating red blood

cells resulting in the following

clinical signs: Anorexia, milk drop,

downer, red urine, jaundice

(yellowness) and often death.

Copper is important for bone

development, hair and muscle

growth, red blood cell and enzyme

formation. Clinical deficiency may

present itself with poor hair coats,

bone fractures, scouring, anaemia.

Subclinical effects are poor weight

gain, reduced milk yields and

reproductive problems.

The greatest complicating factor

involved in increasing copper

issues is the feeding of PKE. PKE

is relatively high in Copper

therefore it goes without saying

that farms feeding a lot of it may

need to reduce other sources of

copper supplementation.

However not all cows are

consuming the same amount of

supplement. Most of the

deficiency related fractures we are

seeing are in the first and second

lactation cows. Not only is this class

of stock down the pecking order and

not eating as much PKE as their

older herd mates but on

investigating the history, some

farmers are not supplementing R1

and R2 heifers with copper every

year as they used to. Young stock

need a lot of copper for growth and

also for the growing foetus in the

last trimester therefore these

animals are entering the herd

already on the back foot copper

wise. They then have a high

demand for copper in early lactation

and a low supply of copper

compared to the older cows.

Variations in copper levels are also

seen elsewhere in the herd relating

to varying copper supply/demand.

Unfortunately this means that

Copper supplementation is no

longer as simple as it used to be.

Adequate testing is essential and

recommended at least once per year

in autumn. We are recommending a

selection of R3s are tested as well

as a main herd sample mob.

Liver biopsies are by far and away

the most informative sampling

method. Biopsies can be taken at

the works on cull cows if you pick up

a form from us prior to

transportation. We can also easily

take a biopsy on live cows on

farm.

Please give us a call to discuss the

best Copper plan for your whole

herd.

Copper Complications on the Increase

WINNER WINNER

WINE FOR DINNER.

The winning caption:

“That bloody pooh is

gonna get it when I

get out, there’s no

honey in here”.

Congrats Paul Hanna

and thanks to the

other contributors it

was a great laugh

reading your

captions!

Spore Counts are still

high, zinc dosing

rates should be at

the maximum. Note:

If drenching with

Zinc Oxide this is

best drenched daily

rather than every

second day. Second

day drenching will

cause ups and

downs in blood

calcium often

resulting in milk

fever.

Calf Lepto

vaccination

reminder: Any

unvaccinated

animals are at high

risk of picking up

lifelong infections,

please get these

done as early as

possible if not

Special Points

of Interest

March

2015

Tirau Veterinary Centre Ltd

(07)8831667

tirauvets.co.nz

us with its large jaws wide open.

She must have been protecting her nest because

she was extremely aggressive.

If I had not had my little palm-sized Beretta

Jetfire .25 caliber pistol with me I would not be

here today!

Just one shot to my estranged husbands knee

cap was all it took. The gator got him easily and I

was able to escape by just walking away at a

brisk pace.

It’s one of the best pistols in my collection!

Plus….the amount I saved in lawyers fees was

more than worth the purchase price of the gun.

“Woman stops gator attack with a small

Beretta pistol”

This is the story of self control and

marksmanship by a brave, cool headed

woman with a small pistol against a fierce

predator. What is the smallest caliber that

you would trust to protect yourself?

Here is her story:

While out walking along the edge of a bayou

just below Houma, Louisiana with my soon to

be ex-husband discussing property

settlement and other divorce issues, we were

surprised by a huge 12 foot alligator suddenly

emerging from the murky water and charging

A Beretta Jetfire Testimonial

Teatsealing Open Day

On April the 9th we will be hosting an

on-farm practical Teat sealant and dry

cow demonstration day.

We will run through correct

administration techniques and answer

any questions you may have followed by

a BBQ lunch.

This will be an excellent opportunity to

ensure all staff are up to play with the

importance of correct technique and

gain a few tips on making the job run

smoothly.

Please register your interest in

attending. Also let us know if you are

interested in hosting the session—yes

that is right you have us administering

your dry cow and teat sealant plus lunch

for free!!

Specially designed Swandri’s are up for

grabs with Merial-Ancare purchases!!

Available with certain size ERINEX,

GENESIS, ECLIPSE and MATRIX