Evaluation of a mineral mix with high levels of molybdenum in the prevention of accumulative copper poisoning in sheep

Abstract

Sheep husbandry is growing since the last decade in the Brazilian south, southeast and northeast regions. Many farmers are improving their raising and breeding systems with the introduction of new sheep breeds and feed techniques in order to intensify the production of meat lambs. That improvement in sheep management leads to several diseases, among them is copper poisoning. The frequency of copper poisoning in ovine is high in Brazil, and it is rising up in the last two decades due to manage intensification by farmers. Accumulative copper poisoning (ACP) is considered the 2nd main cause of death among sheep in Rio Grande do Sul with 15.5% of the cases. Normally, the economic losses are high because most affected animals are of great value, with superior and desirable characteristics by farmers. To prevent copper poisoning, it is suggested the use of copper antagonists such as molybdenum. This work aims to test the efficiency of a mineral mix with high levels of molybdenum in the prevention of ACP. Twenty five ovine distributed in 5 distinctive groups will receive different amounts of copper and molybdenum in the diet, throughout 150 days, and will be evaluated those minerals digestibility compared to copper metabolism, specifically copper reserves in the liver, besides the laboratorial and clinical picture, and compare between all groups. It will be determined in the serum: copper, molybdenum ceruloplasmin, urea, creatinine, bilirubin levels, and ƒ×GT and AST activities; also the urine analysis (color, odor, density, pH, urinary sediment); and determination of copper and molybdenum levels in the liver; copper and molybdenum digestibility; and evaluation of the clinical picture presented by the animals. (AU)