4.3 Oral Treatment of Trace Element Deficiencies in Ruminant Livestock

Abstract

Oral treatment of trace element deficiencies of livestock has a long although not always distinguished history. It has generally been the method first employed following the discovery of a trace element deficiency. Thus, Robert Fraser (1794) used oral dosing with soil to counteract the effects of cobalt (Co) deficiency in sheep; Hunter, Eden and Green (1945) dosed ewes with copper (Cu) for the control of swayback; McLean, Thomson and Claxton (1959) obtained significant growth responses following selenium (Se) supplementation of unthrifty lambs and Dynna and Havre (1963) used oral dosing with zinc (Zn) as part of the treatment of cattle suffering from a combined Zn-Cu deficiency in Northern Norway.