Studies of Sulphur- and Iron-induced Copper Deficiency in Tibetan Sheep

The clinical signs of Tibetan sheep with sulphur- and iron-induced copper deficiency in Maqu County of Gansu Province were defined as thin, decreased appetite, neonatal ataxia, pica, emaciation, and loss of hair color and anemia. The mineral composition of soil and forage, and samples of liver, blood and hair from Tibetan sheep in affected ranches in this region were compared with those from unaffected areas. The mean concentration of iron in soil and forage in affected pasture was 19 675 ±791 and 1 763 ±197 μg/g, respectively, compared with 8 761 ±871 and 357 ±39 μg/g in unaffected pasture. The mean concentration of sulphur in soil and forage in affected pasture was 1.98% ±0.79% and 0.88% ±0.16%, respectively, compared with 1.16%±0.26% and 0.47%±0.16%in unaffected pasture. The mean copper concentrations in soil and forage from the affected pastures were 15.9±1.8 and 6.7±1.6 μg/g, respectively, compared with 16.7±1.9 and 8.9±2.7 μg/g in unaffected pasture.The mean concentration of Cu in blood, liver, and hair from the affected Tibetan sheep were 0.32±0.12, 51.2±3.1 and 2.16±0.65μg/g, respectively, compared with 0.76±0.21, 191±11 and 3.27±0.96 μg/g for healthy animals. Oral administration of CuClO（OH）3prevented and cured anemia. We conclude that wool eating of Tibetan sheep in this region is probably caused by secondary Cu deficiency, mainly due to the high iron and sulphur contents in soils and forage.