---
title: "Common Sub‑Clinical Trace Element Deficiency Symptoms in Sheep & Cattle"
description: ""
url: "https://www.bimedanutrition.com/technology/common-sub-clinical-trace-element-deficiency-symptoms-in-sheep-cattle"
date: "2026-05-29T21:41:03+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

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

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