Mineral testing in cattle
Going into winter is a good time to test a herd's mineral status. Typically, this testing would cover off selenium, copper and vitamin B12 levels. There are essentially three options available for doing these tests, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Blood tests
Testing mineral status on collected bloods is quick and relatively cheap. This method does have some limitations when it comes to copper. Blood copper levels give an indication of the current copper status, but are not particularly useful at assessing copper reserves into the future. The liver is the storage organ for copper, so liver analysis will give more information about the reserves.
Liver testing on cull cows
All that is required is a mineral check form (available from Totally Vets) to be sent with the driver. It is important that the line of cull cows be indicative of the rest of the herd. If these animals have had a long convalescence or have been grazing a separate area of the farm, for example an area that did not have selenium prills added, these cows may not be good indicators of the rest of the herd.
Liver testing on live animals
This entails a small incision on the right hand side of the cow into which a sterile tube is passed and a small sample of liver collected. This method is known as a liver biopsy and requires a little more skill than simply collecting blood. Liver biopsies are therefore slightly more expensive, but they do circumvent the limitations of cull cow testing.
Your vet would be happy to discuss the best way of doing this job to suit your own requirements, so please contact us at either branch of Totally Vets for advice and any questions you may have regarding mineral testing in cattle.
