Effect of various levels of Cu supplementation on growth performance of goat kids.

Pat Coleby in her book Natural Goat Care repeatedly has recommended feeding copper as copper sulfate at the level of 1 teaspoon per week per animal for continuous supplementation in feed or water to goats. In addition, copper supplementation has been shown to improve herd health and production. Internal parasites can also contribute to copper deficiency and in turn parasites can be more prevalent in copper deficient animals. Thus, parasite infestation can be appropriately managed when animals are kept at high copper status.

Ms. Coleby recommends a higher copper sulfate dosage of 1/2 teaspoon per animal per day when they have parasite infestation. Feeding high levels of sulfur (> 0.35% of diet dry matter), molybdenum (> 2 ppm molybdenum in feed or ratios of copper: molybdenum < 5:1), iron (more than 250 ppm), calcium, zinc, manganese and cobalt can reduce copper absorption and deplete liver copper. Soils heavily limed or high in pH may cause copper to be unavailable.

The level of copper in the liver can accurately determine copper status; however, liver biopsy samples are needed. Safe procedures are in place for cattle for liver biopsies; however, similar procedures in goats are questionable. The secondary measurement that can determine copper status of goats is plasma or serum copper; however, liver can be dramatically depleted before plasma or serum copper drops.