Abstract
Copper (Cu) deficiency was diagnosed in a Norwegian red deer (Cervus elaphus) herd subsequent to deaths due to emaciation in late autumn 1999. The animals had free access to salt licks containing 3000 mg Cu/kg. An evaluation of the herd revealed poor calf growth rate, low weights of adult hinds, dull and light-coloured hair coats and cases of diarrhoea. The herd was subsequently monitored throughout a three-year period of Cu-supplementation. The monitoring regimen included clinical observation, copper serum examination, weighing, faecal parasitological examination, and reproduction control by ultrasound. During the period January 2000 to May 2001, the animals were treated with Cu oxid capsules (1 g CuO/10 kg liveweight) at 2–4 months intervals, with the exception of March to September 2000. The animals were fed continuously with Cu-enriched concentrates containing 300 mg Cu/kg, at a rate of 1/2 kg per head and day, from May 2001 to January 2003. Following both copper supplementation regimens adequate serum Cu concentrations were measured, and markedly improved body weights, coat quality and reproductive results were observed, except for the period from March to September 2000 when no treatment was given. The results showed that in a deer herd, with a diet low in Cu, supplementation with CuO capsules had to be given at intervals of a few months to maintain adequate serum Cu levels. Free access to Cu-containing salt licks did not meet the animals' Cu demand. Good and stable results were achieved by the daily feeding of Cu-enriched concentrates.
Highlights
Copper (Cu) deficiency causes various disease syndromes in ruminants [1]
In farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus), deficiency has been associated with general unthrift, recognized as poor body condition, growth rates and coats [25], as well as enzootic ataxia [6,7] and osteochondrosis [8,9]
Another trace element deficiency observed in farmed deer is selenium (Se) deficiency, causing nutritional myopathy and Se responsive ill-thrift [10,11]
Summary
Copper (Cu) deficiency causes various disease syndromes in ruminants [1]. In farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus), deficiency has been associated with general unthrift, recognized as poor body condition, growth rates and coats [25], as well as enzootic ataxia [6,7] and osteochondrosis [8,9]. The weight gain of the animals during summer 2000 was, in spite of good grazing conditions on luxuriant cultivated pasture, not satisfactory and the mean weights of calves and adult hinds in January 2001 were only 5% and 11% respectively higher than those seen in January 2000. During the summers of 2001 and 2002 the weight gain in the herd was good, and the mean weights of calves and adult hinds in January 2002 and 2003 were 59% and 29% respectively above the level in January 2000. This should be seen in connection with the use of cultivated grass pastures during summer; rapidly-growing grass is known to be poor in Cu [17] This drop in serum Cu concentration during the main period of growth and weight gain over the summer presumably contributed to the low body weights found in January 2001. Good and stable results were achieved by the daily feeding of Cuenriched concentrates, used during the second part of this study
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