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Sub‑clinical deficiencies are subtle and easy to miss, often showing up as poor performance rather than clear clinical illness. Below are some of the symptoms.
Copper (Cu) Deficiency
Cattle
Common sub‑clinical signs include:
- Poor coat condition or loss of pigmentation (“spectacle eyes”)
- Poor growth rates / ill‑thrift
- Reduced fertility and reduced immunity
- Bone weakness and general ill-thrift
Sheep
Common sub‑clinical signs include:
- Steely wool (loss of crimp, harsh texture)
- Reduced growth and anaemia
Swayback in lambs (from deficiency in the ewe during pregnancy) - early stages can be sub‑clinical.
Cobalt (Co) Deficiency
Cobalt deficiency leads to low vitamin B12 production in the rumen.
Cattle
Sub‑clinical signs include:
- Poor appetite and reduced feed intake
- Poor growth / ill‑thrift
- Weakness and anaemia
Sheep
Sheep are more susceptible than cattle.
Sub‑clinical signs include:
- Pine: poor appetite, lethargy, poor wool quality, poor thrift, slow growth
- Tear staining around the eyes
- Scaly skin at base of ears (early indicator)
Increased susceptibility to infection due to poor immunity
Selenium (Se) Deficiency
Cattle
Sub‑clinical signs include:
- Reduced growth rates
- Increased stillbirth rate / reproductive issues (sub‑clinical before they become clinical)
- Poor immune function (increased susceptibility to disease)
- Retained placenta’s post calving
Sheep
Sub‑clinical signs include:
- Poor growth and weak newborn lambs
- Reduced vigour in lambs and poor mothering (before full white muscle disease develops)
Iodine (I) Deficiency
Cattle
Sub‑clinical iodine deficiency may show as:
- Reduced fertility / poor conception rates
- Weak or hairless calves at birth (can begin sub‑clinically)
- Increased stillbirths / late abortion risk
Sheep
Common sub‑clinical indicators include:
- Weak or unthrifty lambs at birth
- Hairy lambs or poor fleece quality at birth
- Increased perinatal mortality and stillbirths
click on a link to view a report or trial.
Effects of a Long Acting Trace Mineral Rumen Bolus Upon Range Cow Productivity
Jim E. Sprinkle2, David W. Schafer2, Paul Cunco2, Doug Tolleson2 and R. Mark Enns3, 2The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 3Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Effects of three types of trace element supplementation on the fertility of three commercial dairy herds
D.H. Black, N.P. French, The Veterinary Record, May 22, 2004
The Effect of Cosecure on the conception rate and trace element status of dairy cattle
A.M. Mackenzie, M.M. Moeini and S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds
Effect of a Soluble Colbalt, Selenium and Zinc Glass Bolus on Humoral Immune Response and Trace Elements Status in Lambs
N.R. Kendall, A.M. Mackenzie, and S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds
Measuring copper status
Telsol
The molecular basis of copper and iron interactions
Paul Sharp, Centre for Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey
Role of rumen in copper and thiomolybdate absorption
L. Gould and N.R. Kendall, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham
The Responses to Increased Trace Element Inclusion
S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds
The effect of a zinc, cobalt and selenium soluble glass bolus on trace element status of extensively grazed sheep over winter
N.R. Kendall1, D.W. Jackson1, A.M. Mackenzie2, D.V. Illingworth1, I.M. Gill3 and S.B. Telfer1
1Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds, 2School of Agriculture, Harper Adams University College, 3Thrums Veterinary Group
Effect of a copper, cobalt and selenium glass bolus given to grazing sheep
N.R. Kendall1, A.M. Mackenzie2, S.B. Telfer3
1School of Human Development, Academic Division of Reproductive Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, 2Harper Adams Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, 3Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds
The Effect of a Zinc, Cobalt and Selenium Soluble Glass Bolus on Trace Element Status and Semen Quality of Ram Lambs
N.R. Kendall, S. McMullen, A. Green, R.G. Rodway, Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds
The Effect of Soluble-glass Boluses Containing Copper, Cobalt and Selenium on the Blood Composition of Ewes
G. Zervas1, S.B. Telfer2, G. Carlos3
1Agricultural College of Athens, Greece, 2Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, 3Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey
Bimeda Global
Bimeda® Animal Health Limited
21 Spruce Avenue
Stillorgan Industrial Park
Dublin 18, A94 K5C8
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 1466 7900
Bimeda® UK Headquarters
Bryn Cefni Industrial Estate,
Unit 2A
Llangefni, Anglesey
North Wales LL77 7XA
Phone: +44 (0)1248 725 400
