Archive Article: 2002/06/21

21 June 2002

Watch copper does not become a poison

How much copper are your cows getting? A little in the cake, a mineral lick in the field and perhaps a bolus?

After all, it is better that cows have more than enough minerals rather than go short – or is it? Recent studies by the Vet Lab Agency show the incidence of copper poisoning in dairy cows has risen sharply over the past three years.

So it pays to check how much your cows are getting and whether their intake matches their need. It could save money on supplementation costs and avoid unnecessary casualties.