A PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF COPPER SUPPLEMENTATION IN ALPACAS (LAMA-PACOS)

Supplementing three alpacas with Cu as cupric sulphate (10 mg Cu/kg li veweight) as a single oral dose resulted in no change in the mean plas ma Cu concentrations over 30 days while a single oral dose of cupric o xide needles (2.5 g) given to three alpacas caused a small but signifi cant increase in the mean plasma Cu concentrations during days 10-30 f ollowing treatment. The mean plasma Cu concentrations of four untreate d animals ranged from 4.2 to 5.9 mumol/l over the study. The Cu as cup ric sulphate was excreted in the faeces within 5 days while the cupric oxide needles significantly elevated the faecal excretion for over 30 days.