Copper Deficiency in Ruminants

Abstract

The clinically overt disease syndromes associated with severe deficiencies of trace elements have been recognized for many years. The diagnosis of these conditions can be made primarily on clinical or pathological grounds with laboratory analysis to confirm the diagnosis. In recent years, however, it has been recognized that trace element deficiencies can be associated with syndromes that are not clinically distinct and that manifest primarily as suboptimal production or reproduction and increased disease susceptibility. In many instances the occurrence of these syndromes has been recognized as the result of controlled response trials conducted in deficient herds to determine the effect of the deficiency state.