Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: How to treat Steely Wool Syndrome in sheep?
QUESTION:
I've been assigned a research paper on "Steely Wool Syndrome" AKA Cu deficiency.
I understand the pathology of the condition and why it occurs, yet am a little
unclear on how to treat once symptoms surface. It is known that supplemental
feeding of Cu in a deficient diet is very risky since sheep are so susceptible to
Cu toxicity. I am also aware that once symptoms arise, it is a good indication
of not only rumen & blood Cu depletion, but also deactivation of irreplaceable Cu
enzymes. My research requires dealing with an imaginary sheep herd suffering
from Steely Wool Syndrome" - which has prompted me to ask some reliable sources
what actions must be taken in such a situation??
ANSWER:
Wow, I just lectured on this in my Nutritional Toxicology class! Plus, I
actually observed this in my own flock at home a few years ago.
I guess I was lucky. A mild form of steely wool was the only symptom I observed,
with no other complications. Silver color and coarser texture was about it. What
happened in my case was that I was so careful to avoid added copper in my sheep
diet that, together with naturally occurring low Cu forages, I caused a mild
deficiency. Had these sheep been challenged with a number of selected toxicants
or stresses, I might have seen more symptoms, but they were otherwise fine.
All I did was shear them, then allow them access to red trace mineralized salt
with copper in it (the kind we don't usually feed sheep anymore), and the fleece
grew in quite black and fine after that. I still limit the copper intake and
make very sparing use of salt with Cu in it, but make sure there is enough.
Higher Mo in the soil, or high protein (and therefore high sulfur) diets can
increase the requirement for Cu, as you no doubt know.