Abstract:
404 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 COPPER OXIDE NEEDLE SUPPLEMENTS FOR SHEEP C.A. GRAHAM* and S.R. EDWARDS* Gelatin encapsulation does not provide a satisfactory vehicle for administering copper oxide needles (CuO) to ruminants. Two CuO formulations were developed which could be administered using commercially available pelleting equipment. The first formulation incorporated CuO needles into a polyethylene glycol bolus (CuO-PEG) capsule and the second incorporated CuO needles into a hard polyethylene oxide (CuO-PEO) capsule. These formulations were compared with CuO needles in a gelatin capsule (CuO-GEL) and a CuO soluble glass bolus (Cosecure). The trial was divided into two periods. During the first period of 120 days, 60 sheep were housed in individual pens and fed Ikg of a chaff diet containing 0.06 mmol/kg DM of copper. Sheep weighing more than 25kg received 2.5g of CuO needles and those less than 25kg received 1.25g. After 120 days, the CuO-PEO and CuO-GEL treated animals were slaughtered for recovery studies. The animals receiving other treatments were grazed as a single group for the remaining 240 days. Liver samples which were obtained by biopsy on eight occasions, were dried at 50�C for 48 hours then assayed for Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Table 1 Effect of various forms of copper supplement on liver copper levels. Means within columns flanked by different subscripts are significantly different PcO.05. All CuO supplements were effective in raising liver Cu reserves of sheep. There was no significant differences between CuO-PEO and CuO-GEL treatments after week 9. Treatment with CuO-PEG bolus and Cosecure gave rise to values that exceeded maximum permissible levels for Cu in the liver. While both CuO-PEO and CuO-GEL resulted in similar liver copper levels the CuO-PEO capsule offers a more practical method of administration by using commercially available pelleting guns. * Coopers Animal Health Aust. Limited, The Northern Road, Bringelly, N.S.W. 2171.