[fiestyredhead331]

after getting bloods done on sheep and goats, they are all copper deficient to a degree. Can give Copinox to my goats but it does state it shouldn't be used in sheep known to be susceptible to copper toxicity i.e. North Ronaldsay & Texel, mine are Boreray and Shetland, should they get the Copinox or not? 

[Fleecewife]

It's just Ronnies which are more susceptible to copper poisoning.  Our (bad) neighbour used to give his Texels something or other with copper in - maybe that's why they died right left and centre.

Have a look at Co-Secure.  It's a bolus which gives slow release copper in a way which ensures absorption.  It's given once a year at most, ideally at the end of winter.  Other preparations given orally give sporadic coverage.

You can tell if your coloured primitives have a problem with copper absorption because their fleece will show a horizontal greying line.  Also a grey ruff and cheek wool (in those with woolly faces).  I believe it happens in coloured cattle too.

[fsmnutter]

Our goats get cosecure boluses, I haven't checked the sheep for deficiency but goats have a higher threshold for toxicity and a higher demand. I forgot when they last got them, but Nobby should I think still have one working away unless he brought it back up sometime! Sheep shouldn't be a problem if you're supplementing a known deficiency, but have a google of toxicity signs just in case

[fiestyredhead331]

thanks for that 
thinking I will give the goats the boluses routinely every 6 months as we seem to have a copper issue up here anyway but will research about the sheep just incase, don't want to kill them with kindness!