[Jacob-list] Minerali mixes?

[Linda]

Thank you for the "long winded response". Very informative especially as 
relates to fleece. I have seen banding in dark fleeces which I have 
thought might be the result of a copper deficiency. At that farm, our 
water had a high iron content. Without the resources to check, I'm 
reluctant to experiment so look forward to hearing more updates from you.
Linda

On 9/16/2011 1:59 PM, Jennifer wrote:

> Hi Sue!

> Im the oddball here as I am dealing with some issues that you probably 

> do not have.

> I live in Colorado and we have a high Iron content in the water, as 

> well as high Molybdenum in our soils.  both of these issues cause 

> copper DEFICIENCY in sheep, as it ties up all available natural copper.

> As an Extension Agent, I have been afforded the opportunity to explore 

> this professionally, as I am not the only one in my area with this issue.

> I am working with Dr. Nancy Irlbeck, a Animal Nutritionist at CSU.  I 

> am fortunate that Nancy is also a breeder if Handspinning sheep 

> (Lincoln, Karakul, Wensleydale, Teeswater and CVM) We talk sheep 

> often, and she helps with the National Western Collegiate Wool Judging 

> contest that I host here at my office each year..... She is truly a 

> great resource.

> She explained to me that Natural colored sheep, and those with a 

> longer staple length (not necessarily Jacobs) are more tolerant to 

> copper levels and appear to have a higher copper requirement (she has 

> not said that this is written in stone, and has not committed this) 

> but she suggested that we look at using a mineral with added copper.

> Keep in mind we had a difficult lambing year... nearly half my lamb 

> crop was lost this year .. Mummified lambs... We submitted nearly all 

> of the lambs to necropsy at CSU.  Nothing notable was found.  

> However.. all of the submissions had a low normal (but not deficient) 

> copper level. We also had a weak lamb with neurological issues born 2 

> yrs ago, with no reasoning found on necropsy (at 2 months old) and his 

> Cu levels were also low normal....

> It is theorized that perhaps the Low end of the normal is for white, 

> commercial type sheep... where a low normal reading for a natural 

> colored sheep could indeed be a deficiency.

> Now add in the other "clues" that I have had outside of the mummified 

> lambs....

> Dry fleeces:  This is an issue on Colorado, regardless of mineral 

> level, due to our very arid mountain climate.. and the reason we have 

> so many sheep wearing coats.

> Tender fleeces:  Animals (wethers) with no stress, illness or feed 

> changes were found to have a slight tenderness (not a break) in the 

> fleece....

> Fading color:  My flock genetics has just a few animals that are known 

> to fade.  Most of my sheep are very defined black and white.  We began 

> to see some graying on these animals who came to us as aged sheep, and 

> the graying is not the normal graying.. we kept the distinct change in 

> color between the different wool colors, but inside the black, we were 

> getting graying, and almost a steely wool appearance, where it was 

> coarse and harsh... not at all like the fleece had been when I got them.

> These are all subtle issues that are seen with copper deficiency.

> Looking at labels.. we found most sheep feeds/minerals to be in the 

> 20ppm of Cu range.  Goat/Horse/Cattle tend to be well over 1000 ppm 

> Cu.  Dr. Irlbeck recommended that we free choice offer the same 

> mineral she is feeding her sheep that are dealing with similar Cu 

> issues.  We are offering a basic loose trace mineral supplement.. It 

> is primarily a slat based supplement, that has 420ppm Cu.  It is 

> offered by American Stockman, and seems to be widely available.

> I also have Sweetpro brand SHEEP mineral tubs out for my sheep in 

> addition to the TM salt.

> I cant offer that this system works, as I just started it a little 

> while ago, but I will sure update with Cu levels at butcher on the 

> Jacob lambs we process this year, and then again next year!

> Sorry for the long winded response... While I understand that my 

> soil/water conditions play a big factor here, I am very curious to see 

> if others are feeding Cu due to Natural Color needs.

> Jennifer Tucker

> Moose Mtn Ranch

> Bennett, CO

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Susan J Martin <stcroft at ptd.net>

> To: Sheep E-mail List <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Sent: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 9:24 am

> Subject: [Jacob-list] Minerali mixes?

>

> I would be interested in hearing from you on what minerals (brands) 

> you are feeding your sheep.  We feed loose, free choice minerals that 

> also include salt......I am thinking about changing brands.  What do 

> you use, why do you like it, do your sheep like it and eat it freely, 

> etc?

> Thanks.

> Sue Martin

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