Copper deficiency in milk cows on low moorland in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mineral supply of cows standing on low moorland were investigated. Blood se rum levels of copper, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium were dete rmined in 199 cows of the Pinzgauer breed and in 71 Simmentaler Cows. Uteri ne bleeding sub partu and losses of calves within their first four months o f life with unclear, non-infectious cause were the reason for mineral deter mination in blood, which revealed a copper deficiency. From 1994 through 19 96, 115 blood samples taken from Pinzgauer cows and 98 blood samples harves ted from Simmentaler cows were analyzed. In addition blood samples were tak en from the calves of five farms in 1996. Copper serum levels of Pinzgauer cows were between 5.199 +/- 2.955 mu mol/l and 8.78 +/- 2.712 mu mol/l, cop per serum levels of Simmentaler cows were between 1.671 +/- 2.570 mu mol/l and 6.169 +/- 2.681 mu mol/l. After copper had been supplemented, blood ser um levels stabilized in 1996, however the lower tolerance level of 12.6 mu mol/l was not reached. In the Pinzgauer calves, copper serum levels were 13 .09 +/- 1.9856 mu mol/l after copper supplementation. In the Simmentaler ca lves, copper serum levels were 2.57 +/- 1.787 mu mol/l. Samples of the live r and the brain harvested from calves of the Simmentaler breed revealed hig her levels in the liver after supplementation (48.9 mg/kg original substanc e with a lower tolerance level of 10.0 mg/kg original substance). In brain tissue, however, the lower tolerance levels of 1.8 mg/kg original substance were not reached.