A few months ago I sent my husband to the feed store to buy a bag of loose cattle minerals for my goats. He brought back minerals specially for goats/sheep, which I've been giving free choice. However, it contains no copper whatsoever. I've been reading that goats can have several problems if they're copper deficient and today went myself to buy the cattle minerals. On the label there was a warning stating not to feed to goats or sheep as the mix contains *too much* copper. How much copper do goats need; why does the mix made for goats contain none whatsoever, and what should I do? I thought about buying the cattle minerals and mixing them with the goat minerals but discovered to my dismay upon studying the goat mineral label that it contains animal fat!!! So now I don't know what to do. Thanks in advance!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 07, 2001

Answers

OK, I was wondering why the sheep/goat minerals contained no copper, and I just now found the answer at Saanendoah.com: too much copper is very much more dangerous for sheep than goats. This website suggests doing what I'd considered: mixing the sheep/goat minerals with the cattle minerals. Well, I had planned to do that but what about the animal fat--isn't that crazy! I suppose the best thing to do would be to sprinkle the offending mix over the pasture and not feed any more of it to my goats?

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 08, 2001.

I put Purina 12:12 loose mineral out for my goats. I believe it is a horse mineral. How much copper they need depends on the area you live in and where the hay is grown that you feed.

-- Skip in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), August 08, 2001.

Thanks Skip. I live in NE Texas and feed local hay. I know that parts of TX are copper deficient, but don't know about our area. The soil is sandy, and sandy soils are usually copper deficient, I think. Should I call our Ag extension agent for soil info?

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 08, 2001.

We recently moved from VA to Ar and discovered that the loose minerals we can get here locally do not contain enough copper. I think the amount of copper should be 700ppm, Vicki would know for sure. I had been using a loose 2:1 mineral for the goats back in VA made by Blue Seal, but we can't get blue Seal here. So then we tried a loose mineral, cow 2:1, still not enough, so we will be looking a little more, but i think we either are going to have to have the minerals shipped to us or get copper boluses. Hope this helps.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), August 08, 2001.

Bernice I would simply hate to move because of the headaches you are going through with grain, hay and minerals! Yes Elizabeth the old tired sheep and goat information is going to be around forever I think. Anything that is labeled for sheep and goat, is going to be really made for the sheep with their slow sluggish metabolisims. They need very little copper, and get most of what they need from grain and hay. Goats on the other hand have very quick metabolisims and need alot more copper. Other than by looking, and you have to know your bloodline very well, sending in a liver sample to the state vet is the best way to know if you are feeding adequate copper for our area. If we do not boost our grain mix with Purina's mineral mix that contains 700ppm of copper, put out free choice, our bucks display very classic copper defficency symptoms, sparse hair growth down their backs, and bald tail tips. The biggest plus this information has given my herd is the real worm resisitance we are seeing in our older stock. We have few breeding problems, and though I asist in all deliveries, we haven't had a c-section or had to call the vet, ever, 15 years, to help with deliveries. We also have seen the animal fat, and worse, the molassas sweet minerals some companies offer, you simply don't want to use them. Sweetening minerals will give you an artifical intake of minerals and salt. saanendoah.com is a great site, for those on the west coast, special heed should be taken on your goats copper needs. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 08, 2001.

Vicky, I am on the west coast[ calif] what do you mean about special mineral needs?

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 09, 2001.

You should read the article at saanendoah.com on copper defficency. It is a big problem and a big undiagnosed problem on the west coast, especially in the pacific northwest. Joyce has some excellent stock and wonderful information! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 09, 2001.

Vicki, if you have the info off a label of your Purina mix, could you email it to me so I can have the feedstore order it? They have a Purina mineral mix, but it has 2000 ppm copper in it. I realize you may pour the mix into a bin and throw the bag away (that's what I do) but I thought I'd try anyway. I'mm getting desperate LOL. Everything I've found has either molasses, animal fat, too much or too little copper. Thanks a bunch!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 11, 2001.