Rusty red color on coat (mineral deficiency)

[Pearce Pastures]

We have loose minerals and soft mineral blocks available all the time but this year, we were starting to notice some signs of low copper and decided to bolus. We just bought copper from Jeffers for under $20 (already in premeasured capasules) and they were a piece of cake to give to the goats. Just toss one to the back of their throat, squirt with water from a syringe, and down it went

I also use the soft block because I have a hardheaded girl who won't eat the loose stuff. That said, I wouldn't put the loose in a capsule and make her take it. Because the minerals are a blend of all kinds of things that they might need, she could be completely fine on the others which is why she isn't doing much with them and too much could be as bad as not enough.

 

[Moonshine]

Yeah that's true Pearce Pastures. Do you think those signs are deficiency? Or something else?

 

[Moonshine]

Well I'm happy to say I finally saw my stubborn ole goat eat her minerals today! I added some Rosemary to the mineral feeder and my girls went crazy for it! I'm so glad she ate some. Now maybe she will start looking and feeling better. I'm going to get some kelp to go in with it instead and try that out. Whoooo that sure takes a load off!

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think I'm gonna ask for the vets opinion and get a blood test to see where she's deficit. I was thinking I'd just copper bolus but then I thought if she's not eating the minerals wouldn't she need all them? She is the main one that is showing these signs and aren't those mineral deficiency signs? I wasn't being a good mom and putting out fresh everyday and my girls wouldn't eat the old. I learned from reading they don't like the old and so I changed it out and noticed a difference in all but 1. Stubborn lil turkey! She's like that with everything though!

A blood test can be done to check for mineral deficiencies. I think that would be a good move.

Here's another thing to consider. When you give a goat "free choice" minerals, they eat minerals as the need them. She may not need them. She may be getting sufficient minerals in her diet. I always look for the bright side myself.

Southern by choice got a blood analysis done on a couple of hers. No reason to do a test on the entire herd since if one is deficient then chances are they all are. And the blood work for mineral deficiencies is kind of pricey per sample.

I think her's were a little low on copper, not extreme, but below the "ideal" level. But I don't think she bolused because we are not in a copper deficient area and she is looking more towards high iron in her well water which can inhibit mineral absorbtion.

I've never given a copper bolus. I'm not in a copper deficient area and have no indications they are deficient. I give minerals, but I don't get alarmed if I don't see them taking them. But, that's me.

 

[Southern by choice]

I think I'm gonna ask for the vets opinion and get a blood test to see where she's deficit. I was thinking I'd just copper bolus but then I thought if she's not eating the minerals wouldn't she need all them? She is the main one that is showing these signs and aren't those mineral deficiency signs? I wasn't being a good mom and putting out fresh everyday and my girls wouldn't eat the old. I learned from reading they don't like the old and so I changed it out and noticed a difference in all but 1. Stubborn lil turkey! She's like that with everything though!

A blood test can be done to check for mineral deficiencies. I think that would be a good move.

Here's another thing to consider. When you give a goat "free choice" minerals, they eat minerals as the need them. She may not need them. She may be getting sufficient minerals in her diet. I always look for the bright side myself.

Southern by choice got a blood analysis done on a couple of hers. No reason to do a test on the entire herd since if one is deficient then chances are they all are. And the blood work for mineral deficiencies is kind of pricey per sample.

I think her's were a little low on copper, not extreme, but below the "ideal" level. But I don't think she bolused because we are not in a copper deficient area and she is looking more towards high iron in her well water which can inhibit mineral absorbtion.

I've never given a copper bolus. I'm not in a copper deficient area and have no indications they are deficient. I give minerals, but I don't get alarmed if I don't see them taking them. But, that's me.

I tried posting earlier and the whole thing disappeared...
One fine is right, we also have very high iron in our water.... the problem is if their is actual binding then the blood tests will not necessarily reflect that in the results. The copper could be getting stored up in the liver and without a biopsy we can't tell. No way I am doing biopsies. We opted not to do the bolus, the levels were borderline AND I was more concerned that they could end up with copper toxicity IF indeed the copper is just getting stored. At the time we were moving them to a different field, they had come out of a horrible winter spring season and we made sure to get them in an area where they had better grass, trees, lespadeza and other quality forage. All look great but one still has an off color...

Our mineral analysis results for 4 of our goats...
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26482&p=2

The cost for each test was I think $25-$35 with a lab submission fee.... It was because it had to be sent to Penn State.... Our state lab lost their chemist.
I am very glad I had it done... I will repeat at 6 months from initial testing. We have made some changes to the water.

Hope this helps.

BTW- Notice our selenium results... funny how almost all the vets just automatically give selenium once a year ... we are not in a selenium deficient area. Make sure you ask you vet about EVERYTHING they are wanting to do to your goats! Had a friend that the vet just automatically gave them... yet no deficiency in the area.

Edited to add I have use Source Kelp also... unfortunately with the high iron I had to eliminate Kelp. :/

 

[Moonshine]

Southern, we have hard water and I was thinking about that too. What have you done to improve your water so that the copper is being absorbed?

 

[Moonshine]

Oh, I read your test results and found out you'll be using Rain Water! I think that's a bread idea. I have some barrels laying around of that I will start using!

 

[Jewls819]

I am so happy with the results of copper bolus here is my buck before we gave him the bolus in April.

This is how he looks now..I took this picture Monday. he was too busy for me to take the front view..lol. We do give minerals free choice too.