Copper and health status of cattle grazing high-molybdenum forage from a reclaimed mine tailing site
| Autor: | W. T. Buckley, Z. Mir, W. C. Gardner, Priya S. Mir, K. Broersma, J. D. Popp |
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| Rok vydání: | 2003 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 83:479-485 |
| ISSN: | 1918-1825 0008-3984 |
| DOI: | 10.4141/a02-084 |
| Popis: | High concentrations (21–44 mg kg-1 dry matter) of Mo have been identified in forage in several reclaimed mining areas in British Columbia. Since Mo concentrations greater than 5 mg kg-1 in forage dry matter may result in molybdenosis because of a secondary Cu deficiency in ruminants, a study was undertaken to determine if cattle can safely graze the reclaimed land. For 12-wk grazing periods in 1994, 1995 and 1996, 32 cow/calf pairs grazed high-Mo forage at a reclaimed mine tailings site located at the Highland Valley Copper mine near Logan lake, BC. Half of the animals in the trial received a Cu supplement (All-Trace copper bolus) and the other half served as a control group. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in weight gain, liver Mo, serum Cu and Mo, and milk Cu and Mo between the two treatment groups of cows. Liver Cu was higher for the Cu bolus group at certain time periods in 1994 and 1995, indicating that the bolus was effective at supplying Cu. At all times, the liver Cu levels for the animals remained above the recommended critical level of 25 mg kg-1 dry matter. Animals appeared healthy and no signs of Cu deficiency were observed. Key words: Molybdenum, molybdenosis, copper, mine tailings, reclamation, animal health |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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