[Jacob-list] Fiber: black/white/fading/freckles/ticking

[Linda]

Fred brings up something that I really hadn't thought about.
I'm familiar with the effects of copper on holding color. It's important 
for black rabbits if you want to keep a good deep black, so I watched it 
when I had show rabbits.
But, I've never given a thought at all to iron. Our previous farm was 
just two miles away as the crow flies and we had a well. The water there 
was very high in iron. Our well was better than others in the 
neighborhood, but still pretty high. The people up the hill had to 
filter their well water so they could drink it. We get our water here 
from a spring at the top of the hill, so not sure if it's also high in 
iron. Next time I'm in town, I'll ask our friend at the health 
department about it.
I don't plan to move or buy bottled water for my flock :-)

Linda

Jacobflock at aol.com wrote:

>  

> Melanins binds to a variety of compounds and metals.  Iron tends to 

> neutralize the anti-oxidant property of eumelanin but copper tends to 

> strengthen it.  _*Thus a diet richer in iron tends to promote 

> fading,*_ copper reduces fading and promotes the structure of 

> eumelanin.  Water, soils, mineral, forage etc in the environment 

> richer in copper would tend to fix the black color and reduce fading 

> from UV rays.  Is it possible that there is some measurable difference 

> in the breeders environment (water test, soil test, feed test) that 

> might indicate copper is richer or poorer (like selenium measures).  

> Some data might be available from soil tests, hay tests, and water 

> review boards that would suggest local environmental conditions.  

> Might MI be a copper rich environment?

>  

>

> -- 

>  

>


-- 
Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com>
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