Which trace mineral is highly toxic to sheep?

Prepare for the Comprehensive Feedstuffs and Additives in Livestock Nutrition Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions to enhance your understanding. Sharpen your skills and get ready to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which trace mineral is highly toxic to sheep?

Explanation:
Copper is highly toxic to sheep because they accumulate it in the liver and have a low hepatic tolerance. When copper builds up and a stressful event occurs, copper is released into the bloodstream, causing oxidative damage to red blood cells and acute hemolysis, which can lead to rapid death. This species-specific sensitivity makes copper toxicity the most notable trace-mineral danger in sheep nutrition. Selenium, iodine, and zinc can be toxic too, but copper toxicity in sheep is the classic, most pronounced risk due to their unique copper metabolism.

Copper is highly toxic to sheep because they accumulate it in the liver and have a low hepatic tolerance. When copper builds up and a stressful event occurs, copper is released into the bloodstream, causing oxidative damage to red blood cells and acute hemolysis, which can lead to rapid death. This species-specific sensitivity makes copper toxicity the most notable trace-mineral danger in sheep nutrition. Selenium, iodine, and zinc can be toxic too, but copper toxicity in sheep is the classic, most pronounced risk due to their unique copper metabolism.

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