Trace element nutrition of grazing ruminants. 3. Copper oxide powder as a copper supplement

Abstract

Hepatic copper (Cu) storage was determined in grazing sheep and cattle supplemented with copper oxide powder, oxidized Cu particles or Cu-calcium EDTA. Cu storage was significantly increased when particles or the EDTA complex were given, but responses in hepatic Cu concentration were small in animals given copper oxide powder. Sheep dosed with copper oxide particles retained particles in the abomasum at 44 days from dosing, but those given copper oxide powder did not retain measurable quantities in the abomasum and excreted about half the dose in the faeces within 4 days of administration.

Persistence of the efficacy of copper oxide wire particles against Haemonchus contortus in sheep

“…The Cu concentration was still high in the livers of G1 group. This is consistent with a previous report indicating that sheep dosed with COWP retained particles in the abomasum at 44 days from dosing (Langlands et al, 1989).…”

“…The damaged COWP obtained from the abomasums showed an external metallike layer, an intermediate crystal-like granular layer and a central metal-like core. Langlands et al (1989) mentioned that the COWP structure consists of a central rod of elemental Cu coated with a mixture of cuprous and cupric oxides. Langlands et al (1986a) demonstrated that the active constituent, causing liver Cu accumulation, was the oxide and that the core of elemental Cu was largely inert.…”

Evaluation of Copper Supplementation to Control Haemonchus contortusInfections of Sheep in Sweden

“…The low pH in the abomasum induces the release of high concentrations of soluble copper, which remain elevated in treated sheep for up to 44 days [11]. However, the rate of passage of COWP is dependent on the temporal relationship between food intake and gut fill of treated animals.…”

Effectiveness of copper oxide wire particles for Haemonchus contortus control in sheep

“…copper concentrations remain elevated in treated sheep for up to 44 days, 4 the presence of a high proportion of adult worms at week 4 suggests that efficacy declines after that initial 5 to 6 day period. The present experiments also differed in the presence of small infections of other nematodes, particularly Ostertagia spp, which have been shown to reduce the efficacy of COWP treatment due to increased abomasal pH during infection.…”