Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff
Horses are tolerant of fairly high copper levels at least over the short
term. NRC indicates 800mg/kg of diet or 5500 mg for a horse eating 15 lbs a
day as the maximum tolerable dose of copper. 0.5 teaspoon of copper sulfate
in the form of cupric hydrate (CuSO4:5H2O) would amount to about 1400 mg
of Cu. For copper sulfate in the non hydrate cupric form (CuSO4), it would
amount to 3440 mg. I don't have any density figures of copper sulfate as
Cu2SO4 (Cuprous sulfate), and therefore don't know what the copper intake
might be for that form, but suspect it might be quite a bit higher. Copper
in normal horse food are generally less than 25 mg/kg. It would not appear
that absent other supplementation that feeding cupric sulfate in either
form in that quantity would be toxic. However, copper intake does have an
effect on other minerals, particularly selenium. I would not feed copper at
the levels recommended without taking periodic selenium serum levels. It is
also possible that there are other problems - at best studies of this level
of copper intake are limited.
In addition, the dolomite will supply an additional 10 g of Ca and 3 g of
Mg to the diet. For those people in areas where enteroliths are common, the
additional Mg may not be a good idea and for those concerned about
excessive calcium intake, other adjustments may be necessary. I have no
information about the effects of dolomite on copper one way or the other.
I am not sure of that worming with a chemical fed in extreme amounts where
there is no long term widespread history of use is a great idea.
Ivermectrin has been widely used, and the problems are speculation. Jumping
to something with no track record at all may have all sorts of unknown
risks. For those concerned about overuse of wormer, by all means use good
sanitation and pasture management practices and fecal exams to reduce the
need for worming, but jump to a different wormer with limited history?
Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net
----------
> From: Bruce Overton <boverton@tpgi.com.au>
> To: endurance <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Subject: An Alternate Strategy For Worms
> Date: Wednesday, August 27, 1997 1:51 AM
>
> In the last few weeks there has been a lot of discussion on possible
> problems using the Ivermectin group of drenches. The following is a
direct
> extract from a book titled NATURAL HORSE CARE by Pat Coleby. This book is
> available in Australia and I have been using it for about three years
with
> a marked decrease in vet bills.
> Start quote<<For the last two years I have not used a proprietary drench
> on any of my horses, brood mares included. When I felt they needed
worming
> I have given then a desertspoon of copper sulphate in their evening feeds
> and any sign of worms have promptly disappeared. This strategy has been
> tried on other animals as well with complete success. It would be wise
to
> have regular faecal checks done for peace of mind.
> I was encouraged to try this for several reasons -- one was a fear of
the
> Ivermectin group of drenches that had become (apparently) the only
answer;
> the other was the knowledge that horsemasters of old used copper,
although
> there was no mention of amounts given. The most influental reason was
> reading the collected works of the world's greatest soil scientist, W.A.
> Albrecht. He proved that animals whose systems contained the correct
amount
> of copper did not suffer from internal parasites-- they could eat worm
eggs
> in the paddock, but the worms did not stay in the animal if the copper
> intake was correct.
> The trouble is no-one really seems to know what is the correct amount
of
> copper in any animal is. I tried with goats and came up with a figure
that
> worked well and kept the goats in excellent health for 8 months,
including
> pregnancy and kidding. However this amount was so high that I felt I
should
> lower it,
> and did this to the point where the goats occasionly needed drenching
> again. I used the copper when this arose and have left it at that.
> When I found that the dessertspoon per horse worked quite effectively
> --horses have been given much larger doses on occasion--I have stuck to
> that amount.
> NOTE; A horse that is treated for for worms with copper must be
receiving
> regular dolomite in its feed. Dolomite is the natural antidote for copper
> poisoning but does not impede its efficiency.>>End of quote
> Copper as a supplement should be fed as copper sulphate
> (bluestone)--copper carbonate is twice as strong and should not be used
as
> a supplement but is suitable for paddock topdressing only. Take care you
> follow the note above.
> The quoted dose above of one dessertspoon of copper sulphate is a dose
> for a limited time only and it is much better to feed the horse the
> following mixed in feed once per day:- half teaspoon of copper sulphate;
> one tablespoon of dolomite and one tablespoon of seaweed meal. This diet
> not only will get the copper up to the desired level to combat worms but
> will also make sure that iron deficiencies are unlikely.
> If any one wants the book by Pat let me know and I will get prices for
> you.
> Bruce from Downunder
> Queenslander
> boverton@tpgi.com.au
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff