OPTIMAL PRODUCTIVITY RELIES ON ADEQUATE NUTRITION
Although sheep can appear to have ample feed, they can still fail to thrive because of nutritional deficiencies. Selenium, cobalt and copper are particularly important trace elements and adequate amounts must be supplied in the diet for optimal stock health. Severe nutritional deficiencies cause serious diseases and even death, however, undetected sub-clinical deficiencies can have a major impact on productivity. Correction of these sub-clinical deficiencies can lead to significant improvements in growth rates and wool production in sheep.

MINERAL DEFICIENT AREAS

• SELENIUM DEFICIENCY Soil Type - acid/sandy soils where there is an annual rainfall over 450mm. Main Areas - the Northern and Southern tablelands of NSW, coastal and South East Queensland, parts of Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the eastern half of Tasmania. Selenium deficiency in marginal soils can be exacerbated by the use of superphosphate as sulphur reduces the uptake of selenium by plants giving rise to selenium deficient pastures. Sulphur also increases the growth of legumes which are poor absorbers of selenium.
• COPPER DEFICIENCY Soil Type - sandy soils and those containing excessive amounts of other minerals such as molybdenum, sulphur, zinc, iron, cadmium and calcium which reduce copper's availability to livestock. Main Areas - coastal regions.
• COBALT DEFICIENCY Soil Type - highly weathered and leached sandy soils. Main Areas - the Tenterfield region of northern NSW and along the Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian coastlines. Cobalt is taken up more readily by clovers which contain approximately twice the quantity of grasses.

PRODUCTIVITY Responses to trace element supplementation have been observed in a number of areas outside the recognised deficient areas. Regional veterinary advisers and local veterinarians should be consulted for further information.

Field trials support the use of selenium supplements

Greasy Fleece Weights Increased By 5% to 15% Permatrace® 3 Year Selenium pellets were used in trials run in selenium deficient grazing areas. Increases in greasy fleece weights from an average of 5% up to 15% were recorded. Reproductive Performance Enhanced in Ewes Supplementation with selenium improved reproductive performance in maiden ewes grazing selenium deficient pastures.

New England trial in maiden ewes - 1976.
Reproductive Performance

Treated - received selenium treatment Control - untreated control animals

WEIGHT GAINS

Improved Weaner Weight Gains
Additional weight gains of 4% to 20% were recorded after selenium supplementation.

WHEN SELENIUM DEFICIENCY IS IDENTIFIED YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO BE USING COOPERS® PERMATRACE® 3 YEAR SELENIUM PELLETS

Coopers® Permatrace® 3 Year Selenium pellets contain 0.5g selenium in a base of compressed iron grit. They were developed by the CSIRO and contain the correct particle size to slowly and evenly release selenium over a minimum period of 3 years. The matrix of the pellet will remain in the rumen indefinitely and may be seen at slaughter. Permatrace® 3 Year Selenium pellets are the safest and most effective form of supplementation. The effects of selenium drenches and injections are short lived and repeat treatments are required. Underdosing or excessive dosage leading to toxicity can also be a problem with injections and drenches. To avoid the possibility of selenium deficiency blood selenium levels should be kept above the critical level.

How the pellet affects blood selenium levels

PERMATRACE® 3 YEAR SELENIUM PELLETS GIVE YOU 3 YEARS OF INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

The only cobalt supplement which gives you three years of increased productivity

How Important is Cobalt?
Cobalt deficiency can lead to significant productivity losses because of:

• reduced appetite
• loss of condition
• wasting and poor wool growth
• pale mouth and eye membranes indicating anaemia
• weeping eyes
• scaly ears
• white liver disease

Cobalt is an essential trace element required for the synthesis of Vitamin B12 by the rumen microbes. Cobalt is essential therefore to ensure adequate Vitamin B12 levels in the animal. It can be difficult to diagnose cobalt deficiency but the simplest and most reliable method is probably to measure the response of animals to supplementation. Your veterinarian can advise you.

Cobalt supplemented animal on the right, untreated animal on the left.

Productivity responses to cobalt supplementation

Cobalt supplementation in ewes prior to lambing resulted in:

• Improved liveweight of ewes during pre-lambing period
• Heavier lambs at birth
• A 66% increase in milk production in ewes during the first month of lactation
• Weight gain of lambs increased by 150% between birth and weaning

Phalaris Staggers
This nervous disorder mainly affects sheep grazing pastures with a high Phalaris aquatica content. Permatrace® 3 Year Cobalt pellets have been shown to prevent this condition. Vitamin B12 injections are not effective in preventing the disorder.

IF YOU ARE IN A COBALT DEFICIENT AREA IT MAKES SENSE TO USE PERMATRACE* 3 YEAR COBALT TO PROTECT YOUR FLOCK

THE PRODUCT

Coopers® Permatrace® 3 Year Cobalt pellets contain 30% cobalt oxide which is slowly released over a 3 year period. The iron matrix of the pellet will remain in the rumen indefinitely and may be seen at slaughter. Permatrace® 3 Year Cobalt pellets are the most efficient and cost effective method of cobalt supplementation because of their long life span. Oral drenching with cobalt and vitamin B12 injections require repeat treatments increasing stock handling. Top dressing of pastures can be unreliable.

The copper supplement which protects your flock for a full year

How does copper deficiency affect productivity?

Wool Abnormalities
Copper deficiency can affect wool quality:

• Loss of wool crimp.
• Lack of wool character. It develops a sheen and is known as "steely wool".
• Greatly reduced tensile strength and elasticity.
• De pigmentation of black fleece.

Both examples 21 micron 'wool'. Staple on the right shows effect of copper deficiency on wool character ("steely wool").

Steely Wool is Discounted

• Good quality wool - 21 micron - 76% yield - valuation 741 cents/kg
• Steely wool - 21 micron - 72% yield - valuation 490 cents/kg

This amounts to a 34% discount on the wool's value , a penalty no grazier can afford.

Further effects on productivity of copper deficiency include:

• Ill-thrift and Reduced Growth
• Serious Deficiencies - Swayback, anaemia and fragile bones.

It is unwise to treat stock of unknown copper status as an excess of copper can be toxic. If you are in a marginal or copper deficient region, consult your veterinarian who can check the copper status of your stock by taking blood or liver samples. Often the most reliable method of determining copper deficiency is to measure the response to supplementation with Permatrace® Copper capsules as it is much safer than other forms of copper.

Productivity responses to copper supplementation

Wool Quality Improved Supplementation with Permatrace® Copper capsules has been shown to improve wool crimp and softness in sheep grazing copper deficient pastures. Increased Growth Rates Eleven weeks after supplementation, treated sheep had gained an additional 3.5kg when compared to the control group in one field trial.

IF COPPER DEFICIENCY IS A PROBLEM, WOOL QUALITY AND PRICE WILL SUFFER. COOPERS PERMATRACE® COPPER CAPSULES ENSURE THAT YOUR WOOL CLIP BRINGS YOU THE GREATEST RETURNS.

THE PRODUCT

Coopers® Permatrace° Copper capsules each contain 2.5g of oxidised copper wire particles. Once administered, the capsule lodges in the rumen where it dissolves and releases oxidised copper needles. These particles slowly pass through to the fourth stomach where they become solubilised, gradually releasing copper which is absorbed into the blood stream. Permatrace® Copper capsules is the safe, reliable and long lasting copper supplement for sheep. Oral drenches and injections require repeat applications during the year and can cause toxicity. Mineral licks supply copper at low levels and can be ineffective.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

PERMATRACE® 3 YEAR SELENIUM
Sheep 1 pellet every 3 years

PERMATRACE® 3 YEAR COBALT
Sheep 1 pellet every 3 years

PERMATRACE® COPPER
Adult sheep and goats 1 capsule annually

Permatrace® pellets may be given together. It is recommended that a Coopers® grinder be given with Selenium or Cobalt pellets if given alone.

• Pellets should be administered with the Coopers®Sheep Pellet Gun or they can be given at the same time as a drench using a plastic attachment for the Coopers® Drench Gun.
• Do not dose lambs or kids under 2 months of age i.e. until the rumen is fully developed.
• Dose ewes and does early in pregnancy to ensure that young lambs and kids have good trace element reserves.
• No other form of selenium or copper should be given together with Permatrace® 3 Year Selenium and Permatrace® Copper supplements.
• Permatrace® Copper should not be given to animals who are suffering from liver disorders e.g. liver fluke.