Copper it

[happydays]

Hi,

I have been feeding my doe approx 1lb of goat feed (various grains corn etc.) it states on the bag that it has various vitamins but does not say anything about copper.

I have been to various animal feed shops here in Spain but no one seems to have any copper supplements for goats.

She is in the field but I am giving her the goat feed aswell as she seems very thin and was like that when we got her one and a half weeks ago. Her coat is very thin and rough and not very nice.

We got an injection from the vet to give her he said it was for worms and other parasites on her skin.

I want to know is it OK to give her human copper tablets as these are easy to get. I have seen some that are 2 mg.

I would guess she weights around 130 lbs not quite sure. How many tablets would I need to give her and would it be daily.

Any help appreciated as I know goats do need copper.

 

[Goatherd]

If the nutritional values on the bag do not mention copper, then there is a good chance that it hasn't been added.

Being that you are in Spain, would you have access to buying a mineral supplement designed specifically for goats? If you do, then there would be a sufficient amount of copper in there to compensate for any deficiencies that you goat might have. I don't know if ordering on line is a possibility for you? If so, try to find a loose mineral supplement designed specifically for goats. I apologize since I don't know what shipping regulations are to foreign countries.

When you try to self-medicate, so to speak with copper supplements, you may create a worse problem than when you started. Could you contact your vet and ask what their recommendation might be?

If your doe was infested with worms, which would cause the symptoms you describe, the wormer that your vet gave you should eradicate them and you will see a physical improvement in time.

Here's a site that may help you with your copper dilemma. http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/issues/87/87-3/coppers_role_in_goat_health.html

 

[marliah]

I would try adding foods that are high in copper, I give my girls black oil sunflower seeds, but pumpkin seeds end some herbs are high in copper as well. Here's a list of high copper foods, obviously no meat or chocolate for goats though but you can get an idea of some high copper foods anyway

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/high-copper-foods.php

I would also look for a goat mineral mix, feed stores must have some sort of mineral mix formulated for goats.