Then the Calves

We'll all stand by the gate, so we get out the easy way

even though there is plenty of room

The calves have come in for their dose of Copper and Selenium (and a mix of other minerals) and a dip for Lice.

Why do we give them minerals?  Not just because we feel like it I assure you - but every year we get a sample of the cull cows' livers tested at the works, and they tell us the mineral status for the all important copper and selenium.  New Zealand being such a young country geologicaly  the soils haven't weathered enough to release many of the important minerals  for our stock.  Even with supplementation we find we are only just adequate.

A shortage of copper means you can get - declined growth rate, diarrhoea, boney changes - fragility and osteoporosis  (lambs getting broken legs for no apparent reason can be a sign), poor coat colour, poor reproductive performance and anaemia.

And with Selenium a general unthriftiness in marginal cases and in more severe cases white muscle disease (mainly affecting the heart muscle, and rarely seen now as people are aware of the need for supplementation).  Fertility is affected and our rams and bulls usually get a dose of selenium about 8 weeks before being put out for mating to help ensure healthy sperm counts.

It is difficult to get the balance right - too much lime inhibits release of copper, and iron affects it too in the soil, but we do try to do our best.  And always remembering -"That too much of a good thing" can be TOXIC.