A study on the causes of copper deficiency and the effects of mineral supplementation in a herd of goats in Aomori Prefecture

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  • 青森県で発生した子山羊の原発性銅欠乏症とミネラルサプリメント給与による予防効果
  • アオモリケン デ ハッセイ シタ コヤギ ノ ゲンパツセイ ドウ ケツボウショウ ト ミネラルサプリメント キュウヨ ニ ヨル ヨボウ コウカ

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Abstract

At the end of May 2011, a kid goat(Case 1)showed signs of ataxia at Farm A, which was raising 38 goats in Aomori Prefecture. Since the goat became astatic in July 2011, it was euthanized for necropsy. Histopathological findings included swelling, agglomeration and fragmentation of the sciatic nerve. Moreover, muscular group atrophy and hyaline degeneration were observed in the muscle fibers of the hind limbs. These findings suggested that the kid goat had copper(Cu)deficiency. At the same farm, three goats(Cases 2 to 4)that were born in April 2011, the same as Case 1, showed signs of posterior ataxia from the end of October to November in the same year. Since their conditions became progressively worse in December, they were euthanized. Their serum Cu concentrations were remarkably low(4〜9μg/dℓ), and their histopathological findings were similar to those of Case 1. In Farm A, the mean values of serum Cu were very low in December 2011: 22μg/dℓ in caprine dams; 13 μg/dℓ in breeding goats and 33μg/dℓ in cows that had been raised on similar roughage. To prevent Cu deficiency, a mineral supplement(Cu: 11 mg/day/head for dams, 5.5 mg/day/head for breeding goats)was added to the goat’s feed from early February in 2012. As a result, mean values of serum Cu increased to 95μg/dℓ, 87μg/dℓ and 84μg/dℓ in dams, breeding dams and neonates, respectively, in April 2012. Serum Cu, Fe and Ca concentrations of kid goats were normal in May 2012 but significantly decreased in July 2012 during the pasturage period. Since Cu contents in the roughage and the soil of Farm A were very low compared to those typically seen in Japan, it was suggested that the present cases were affected by primary Cu deficiency. Since the addition of the mineral supplement, no Cu deficiency had occurred by November 2012.

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