Cattle poisoning with minerals, vitamins and premixes, overdose of medications. Vitamin e

Novice livestock breeders often do not know about the need for useful elements for the body of large animals. cattle. It is considered that if the animal is free-range or receives concentrated food, then additional additives Not needed. This is the main mistake that leads to disastrous results. How and what does a lack of vitamins and minerals affect? We'll talk about this in our short review.

Regardless of gender and age, cattle representatives need vitamin supplements

Why are vitamins needed?

The internal reserves of vitamins in livestock are not unlimited. Therefore, animals need food nutrients from outside. In order to maintain normal body activity, experienced livestock breeders use a number of vitamins necessary for increased biological activity of cows.

What are vitamins for? Even with balanced diet, animals need minerals. They control healthy metabolism and affect the productivity and fertility of livestock. All chemical processes in the body occur with nutrients.

Cattle do not need all types of vitamins. Some of them are produced by the microflora of the stomach and intestines. However, supplies are not sufficient for high-yielding or dry cows. In winter, all animals need useful elements due to lack sunlight and fresh grass.

In case of a shortage of substances, there is a death of animals, especially young animals. Sexual desire worsens and reproductive functions(ovarian dysfunction, impaired spermatogenesis). Livestock are susceptible to infectious diseases due to reduced immunity.

The lack of vitamins especially affects young animals.

With a long-term lack of vitamins in the cattle menu, vitamin deficiency begins. This threatens:

• deterioration in growth;
• decreased reproduction;
• decreased productivity;
• hidden and obvious chronic diseases.

Vegetable feed contains carotene (provitamin A), which in the walls small intestine turns into vitamin A.

Plays a major role in the functioning of cells and also ensures the healthy functioning of the mucous membrane of the eyes. With vitamin deficiency occurs:

• inflammation of the organs of vision;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• slowdown in cow ovarian function;
• decreased spermatogenesis in bulls.

Most often, young animals and cows with high lactation do not have enough carotene. The body of livestock accumulates the necessary element in order to use reserves in case of deficiency. The higher the amount of milk produced, the greater the requirements for the amount of vitamins.

Vitamin deficiency in a pregnant cow affects the health and viability of the offspring. By the end of winter and spring, many weak calves are born due to a lack of an element in the mother's diet. To increase the quantity and quality of milk and colostrum in a cow, we recommend taking a course of vitamin A. Remember: this substance causes poisoning in animals if overdosed. Therefore, consult your veterinarian individually.

Sometimes vitamin A deficiency can be corrected fish oil

Vitamin D

A lack of this vitamin will lead to rickets in young animals. Thanks to the substance, calcium is better absorbed in the body of animals. For vitamin deficiency:

• cows that have given birth have loose teeth and fall out;
• animals become excitable;
• abnormal development of calves' limbs;
• digestive problems in young animals.

Most often, cows with increased lactation suffer from a lack of vitamin D. This occurs due to increased metabolism. If you provide animals with the right element, milk production will improve.

In addition to plant feed, the vitamin is synthesized by the animal body during solar irradiation.

In sunny weather, it is recommended to let cattle out for a walk, especially in winter and spring. In the presence of ultraviolet lamps, irradiate livestock every day. Use vitamin-containing preparations only as prescribed by a veterinarian. A specialist will prescribe an individual norm.

Lactating cows especially suffer from vitamin D deficiency after calving.

Vitamin E

The element is involved in the work of all organs. Normal regulation fat metabolism impossible without the presence of vitamin E. With a lack of the substance, the function of the ovaries of cows slows down. The animal cannot bear a healthy fetus due to incorrect exchange in the uterine mucosa. With vitamin deficiency, hidden abortion is possible - resorption of the embryo in the early stages.

Growth and live weight gain in calves are impaired. With prolonged deficiency, muscle dystrophy, lameness, and paralysis are detected. The cardiovascular system is subject to destructive degenerative processes. In bulls it is noted total loss sexual functions.

Lack of vitamin E provokes serious illnesses in calves

What else is needed

For the full development of animals, not only vitamins are needed. Therefore, remember about the main substances responsible for the vital functions of cattle.

Protein

Protein plays important role in the development of the organism. This construction material bodies. With a deficiency of the substance, ovarian function in cows slows down and milk production deteriorates.

Young animals are more susceptible to disease due to reduced immunity. The amount of feed consumed increases at a low growth rate.

Copper

With a lack of copper, livestock farmers note a deterioration in the appetite of livestock. This leads to anemia and decreased body growth. Sometimes a perversion of taste is detected. Cattle fur becomes dull, loses color and hangs in clumps. There is a decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood. This leads to temporary loss of reproductive function, which leads to cessation of lactation.

Lack of copper negatively affects the condition of the coat

Iodine

Lack of iodine negatively affects fat content and milk quantity. Fertility of animals is impaired:

• ovarian function slows down;
• spermatogenesis is impaired;
• miscarriages, fetal resorption in the early stages;
• birth of dead, non-viable calves.

Manganese

Affects the reproductive function of cattle:

• irregular estrus;
• low fertility;
• miscarriages.

Young animals develop slowly, later they begin puberty, weight gain. The animals are obese and have problems with their limbs.

Lack of manganese inhibits the growth of calves

Salt

Table salt is one of the important elements that support correct work cattle body. The mineral affects the digestibility of proteins. If there is a deficiency of the substance, note:

• the appetite worsens, the appetite becomes distorted;
• milk yields are falling;
• ovarian dysfunction;
• disturbance of spermatogenesis;
• reduction in live weight gain.

We looked at the main elements that are important for the full development of cattle. Deficiency leads to irreparable changes in the body. Therefore, we recommend adding beneficial substances to food or injecting them. Individual doses will be calculated and prescribed by a veterinarian.

Instructions for the use of Tetravitam for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by a lack of vitamins and selenium in farm animals and dogs (developer organization: NPK Askont+ LLC, Moscow region).

I. General information
1. Trade name medicinal product: Tetravitam. International generic name: retinol, cholecalciferol, tocopherol, cyanocobalamin, selenium.
2. Dosage form: injection. Tetravitam in 1 ml as active ingredients contains: vitamin A (retinol acetate) - 30,000 IU, vitamin D 3 (cholecalciferol) - 15,000 IU, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) - 20 mg, vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin) - 20 mcg, sodium selenite - 0.15 mg (in terms of selenium) and Excipients: lactoalbumin protein hydrolyzate - 2 mg, glucose - 50 mg, Tween 80 - 100 mg, nipagin - 0.5 mg, nipazole - 0.21 mg, water for injection - up to 1 ml.
By appearance the drug is clear liquid from light pink to
light yellow color.
3. Tetravitam is produced packaged in 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 ml bottles of dark glass of appropriate capacity, sealed with rubber stoppers reinforced with aluminum caps. Each packaging unit is supplied with instructions for use.
4. Tetravitam is stored in the manufacturer’s sealed packaging, separate from food products and feed, in a dry, protected from direct sun rays place, at a temperature from 5 to 25°C. The shelf life of the medicinal product, subject to storage conditions, is 2 years from the date of production. Do not use after expiration date.
5. Tetravitam should be stored out of the reach of children.
6. Unused medicinal product is disposed of in accordance with legal requirements.

II. Pharmacological properties
7. Pharmacotherapeutic group of the drug: combined vitamin
a preparation containing vitamins and the microelement selenium.
Vitamin A necessary for the regulation of growth processes, metabolism in the body, participates in the processes of regeneration of the skin and mucous membranes, in the formation of immunity, has positive influence on the reproductive functions of animals, participates in the formation of visual purple rods in the retina.
Vitamin D 3 affects the overall metabolism in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. First of all, it stimulates the absorption of calcium, phosphates and magnesium from the intestines. An important effect of the vitamin in this process is to increase the permeability of the intestinal epithelium to calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin D 3 the only vitamin that acts both as a vitamin and as a hormone. As a vitamin, it maintains the level of inorganic P and Ca in the blood plasma above the threshold value and increases the absorption of Ca into thin section intestines.
Vitamin E participates in the biosynthesis of hemoglobin and proteins, cell proliferation, tissue respiration and other metabolic processes in cells, and has strong antioxidant activity.
Vitamin B 12 has high biological activity and is necessary for normal hematopoiesis. Activates the blood coagulation system, reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood.
Has a beneficial effect on liver function and nervous system. Increases the ability of tissues to regenerate.
Selenium is involved in cellular respiration and synthesis nucleic acids, supports action
antioxidants, being a structural component of many enzymes (antioxidant and hormone synthesizing). Enhances the antioxidant activity of vitamin E, activates glutathione and, together with vitamin E, protects cell membranes, mitochondria, microsomes and lysosomes from lipid peroxidation.
In terms of the degree of impact on the body, Tetravitam is classified as a low-hazard substance (class 4
danger according to GOST 12.1.07).

III. Application procedure
8. Tetravitam is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by deficiency
vitamins and selenium in farm animals and dogs, as well as in diseases developing against their background (xerophthalmia, rickets, osteomalacia, tetany); V complex therapy in the treatment of pathologies gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs and gynecological diseases; as an immunomodulatory agent during stress (transportation of animals, preventive vaccinations and deworming, change of diet, recovery period after illness); with retarded growth, development and insufficient weight gain of young animals; to increase productivity and reproductive function in adult animals.
9. It is prohibited to use in animals with increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as with excessive selenium content in feed and the body (alkali disease).
10. Tetravitam is used intramuscularly for 30 days, three or four times with an interval of 7-10 days with treatment and twice with an interval of 14-21 days with for preventive purposes, in the following doses:
- cattle, horses - 2 ml per 100 kg of animal weight;
- for young cattle - 1 ml per 50 kg of animal weight;
- pigs - 2 ml per 100 kg of animal weight;
- replacement young animals - 1 ml per 50 kg of animal weight;
- for weaned piglets - 0.2 ml per 10 kg of animal weight.
- sheep and goats - 2 ml per 100 kg of animal weight; for young animals - 0.2 ml per 10 kg of animal weight;
- dogs - 0.2 ml per 10 kg of animal weight.

In winter, before use, the drug should be heated in a water bath to 25°C. The drug is administered to pregnant sows 3-4 weeks before farrowing, and to pregnant cows 1-1.5 months before calving.
11. Symptoms of overdose when using Tetravitam in accordance with the instructions have not been identified.
12. No specific effects were identified when taking the drug for the first time and when stopping it.
13. If the regimen for using the drug is violated, the course of treatment must be resumed in the prescribed dosages and regimen.
14. When using the drug Tetravitam in accordance with these instructions, no side effects or complications have been identified. A change in skin color may be observed at the injection site of the drug, which spontaneously disappears within 10 to 14 days. 15. The use of Tetravitam does not exclude the use of other medicines and feed additives.
16. Slaughter of animals for meat is permitted no earlier than 14 days after the last use of the drug. Meat of animals forcedly killed before expiration specified period, can be used in feed fur animals. Milk can be used for food purposes without restrictions.

IV. Personal prevention measures
17. When working with Tetravitam, you should follow general rules personal hygiene and safety precautions required when working with medications. When working with the drug, do not drink, smoke or eat. After handling the medicine, wash your hands with soap.
18. People with hypersensitivity to the components of Tetravitam should avoid direct contact with the drug. In case of accidental contact of the drug on the skin, it must be washed off with soap and water; in case of contact with the eyes, rinse them for several minutes. big amount running water.
If allergic reactions or if the drug accidentally enters the human body, you must immediately contact medical institution(bring instructions for use or label with you).
19. Empty bottles of medicinal products must not be used for household purposes.
purposes, they must be disposed of with household waste.
20. Manufacturer: LLC NPK Askont+, 142279, Moscow region, Serpukhov district, Obolensk village, Stroiteley street, building 2.
Address of production place: Moscow region, Serpukhov district, Obolensk village, Stroiteley street, building 2.

The instructions were developed by NPK Askont+ LLC.
Recommended for registration in Russian Federation FSBI "VGNKI".
Number registration certificate 32-3-1.15-2526 No. PVR-3-1.15/03115

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 4 minutes

A A

No one is immune from diseases, and animals are no exception. If the cow’s condition has changed at the end of winter, lethargy and refusal to eat are observed, then the changes are most likely associated with a lack of vitamins. Vitamin deficiency develops at the end of the stall period. Over the winter, the animal has used up its entire supply of vitamins and microelements.

Hypovitaminosis is most often detected in pregnant cows, bulls and young animals. Dairy animals suffer from a lack of vitamins. How is hypovitaminosis determined and how is it treated?

Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, vitamin D is produced in the body of animals. It helps normalize phosphorus-calcium metabolism. Insufficient amounts of the vitamin lead to osteomalacia. The animal's bones soften. The disease has the following symptoms:

• low activity, the cow tries to lie down more, she has difficulty getting to her feet; limps when walking;
• there is a disease called mucus; the animal licks the walls, objects that are in the stall, urine, rags;
• cows eat food unusual for them: bones, stones;
• the animal becomes skinny, the sides sink;
• gums become inflamed, incisors begin to wobble and fall out; deformation of the jaw bones occurs;
• when palpating the joints and ribs, pain appears; changes are observed in the pelvic bones.

At the first sign of vitamin D deficiency, the animal is separated from the herd and certain therapy is prescribed. Treatment is associated with changes in diet, improvement of living conditions, daily walks, especially in sunny days. If there are obvious symptoms of hypovitaminosis, medication treatment is prescribed.

In spring and summer period it is necessary to stockpile silage for the cow. It should consist of alfalfa, clover, and corn. Add to silo bone meal, feed chalk. If it is not possible to store silage in winter, then the grass is dried and given to cows in the form of hay. Veterinarians prescribe lush green grass for animals with osteomalacia. This is the first aid for cattle with hypovitaminosis “D”.

• As therapy, the animal is irradiated with EUV lamps. The cow receives artificial sunbathing. The procedures are carried out daily for 10-15 minutes.
• Additionally prescribed oil solution vitamin intramuscularly. Dosage – 100-200 IU.
• If the symptoms of vitamin deficiency in a cow progress, then calcium gluconate 20% solution is prescribed intramuscularly.
• Calcium chloride, 10% solution, is administered intravenously.

To find out the causes of the disease, blood is taken from the cow for electrolytes. Treatment with medications is prescribed only after receiving the analysis.

Signs of vitamin B deficiency in a cow

Symptoms of vitamin B deficiency are not immediately noticeable. The animal's behavior changes. Nervousness, excessive activity are observed, the cow does not obey its owner. Ataxia develops: the disease can be inherited.

Obvious signs of vitamin deficiency include the following changes:

1. impairment of gross motor skills, coordination during movement and in a quiet position;
2. there is trembling in the muscles;
3. the cow strongly raises and bends its legs, as if walking along the parade ground;
4. Bald patches appear on the body, peeling is detected;
5. swelling appears in the joint area;
6. Digestion and appetite are disrupted, which leads to exhaustion.

If a cow experiences the first changes in behavior, veterinarians recommend not waiting for complications to appear. It is necessary to add bran, brewer's yeast, and carrots to the animal's diet. At obvious signs vitamin deficiency, group “B” drugs are prescribed. For treatment, use a solution of cobalt chloride, 0.1%, 100 ml.

Vitamin A deficiency occurs more often in calves than in adult animals. Symptoms of changes in the body indicate a lack of carotene in the diet. If a specialist determines that animals are fed silage with the addition of combined feeds rich in vitamins, then the cause is sought in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It happens that carotene is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. This phenomenon occurs especially often in calves.

Vitamin deficiency in cows is determined by the following changes:

To prevent and treat the first symptoms of vitamin deficiency, animals are given vitamin hay, consisting of alfalfa and mixed feed, saturated with vitamin A. Carrots and fish oil are added to the calves’ diet, which is also a good preventive measure against rickets.

The main food for a calf is cow's milk, but it will not be enough if an adult animal suffers from vitamin deficiency. Increased feeding of the cow with vitamin feed will do little to help the calf. Veterinarians recommend giving young animals additional vitamins A.

It is recommended to feed calves oatmeal with the addition of carrots or potatoes. Jelly made from oatmeal is useful. The drink is prepared in the evening. Cereals or whole grain pour boiling water over it and cover with a warm blanket. The jelly will infuse overnight. In the morning it is given to the calf. If he is one month old, then daily norm jelly 2.5 kg. The norm for root vegetables is 2 kg. To replenish the body with carotene and for good growth calves are given vitamins:

• "Biovit 80"; the drug normalizes digestion and strengthens muscles;
• "Eleovit"; contains retinol, increases immunity, is used for vitamin deficiency of any type; given to calves from birth if the cow suffered from a lack of vitamins during pregnancy;
• "Vilofoss"; food supplement, rich in protein and vitamin complex; It is recommended to give to dairy calves and adult animals.

Etiology. The cause of vitamin A deficiency in calves is a lack of vitamin A or its provitamin, carotene, in the feed, which is found mainly in plants rich in green and yellow pigments. It also occurs when calves are fed milk obtained from cows on a vitamin-deficient diet. In such cases, the disease in calves can begin in the 1st or 2nd month of such feeding. Besides, great importance in the development of vitamin deficiency A is the subsequent feeding of weaned calves with feeds with insufficient content of the required provitamin, such as: brown hay, devoid of leaves, straw, chaff, grains, bran, etc., without additional feeding of carrots and other feeds rich in carotene. Contributing reasons are lack of walks in the sun, poor living conditions, insufficiency mineral fertilizing and giving acidic feed.
Symptoms With vitamin deficient nutrition of mother cows, the young animals from such cows are born weak, nonviable and susceptible to diseases. His live weight at birth is usually insufficient. Sometimes young animals die in the first days after birth.
The first sign of vitamin A deficiency developing after birth will be developmental delay and insufficient weight gain of calves. At the same time, conjunctivitis and sometimes hemeralopia are observed ( night blindness), xerophthalmia (dry eye) and keratomalacia (clouding and ulceration of the eye). In addition, there is a disease of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract (diarrhea), which occurs with normal or low temperature. Subsequently, even in the absence of cold factors, damage to the upper respiratory tract and then bronchopneumonia. Due to the reduced resistance of the body, one can almost always expect the addition of infectious diseases, in particular colibacillosis and paratyphoid fever.
Course and prognosis. The course of vitamin A deficiency depends primarily on whether food containing vitamin A or its provitamin, carotene, is included in the diet. With an appropriate change in feeding towards saturation of the feed ration with feed rich in vitamins or provitamins, vitamin A deficiency quickly stops. If you continue to feed feed poor in vitamins, the disease can spread massively and is often accompanied by a retreat from additional complications.
Treatment and prevention. Prevention consists of switching mother cows and nurse cows to green feed or good green hay, root crops (carrots) and early-harvested grass silage. Concentrates are not canceled, but acidic foods are excluded from the diet. During the stall period, daily walks are organized, and in the summer the pasture is used as much as possible. The same is done with young animals.

Good results are obtained by treating sick calves with pureed carrots, fish oil 10.0-100.0 per dose for a long time and vitamin A preparations (carotol).
In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, sick calves are isolated and, if necessary, given appropriate vaccinations. In addition, they whitewash and disinfect calf sheds, maintain proper cleanliness and ensure systematic ventilation of the premises.
For newly born calves, early and abundant feeding of colostrum is also beneficial, which contains several tens of times more vitamin A than subsequent milk, and thereby creates the necessary reserves of vitamin A in the calves’ bodies.
For the treatment and prevention of A-vitaminosis, a protein-vitamin concentrate from green plants is also prescribed for calves up to 100 g, and piglets up to 20-30 g per day.

UDC 636.084.1:636.087.7

Translation from French by A. Zavoloki

Keywords: calves, lack of trace elements, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, iron, copper, cobalt, iodine, manganese, zinc, selenium

Key words:calves, trace element, deficiency, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, iron, copper, cobalt, iodine, manganese, zinc, selenium

annotation

The article describes the reasons for the lack of trace elements in calves during growth, clinical manifestations deficiency of iron, copper, cobalt, iodine, manganese, zinc and selenium. The diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases are described in detail.

The article describes causes of trace element deficiency in calves during growth, clinical signs of iron, copper, cobalt, iodine, manganese, zinc and selenium deficiencies. Diagnostics, treatment and prevention described in detail.

INTRODUCTION

The condition of calves before weaning from their mothers depends on two sources that cover their needs for microelements: the liver reserves that they received from their mother at birth, and milk or its substitute, and these sources of micronutrients may not be enough.

Young animals are especially sensitive to micronutrient deficiencies; their needs increase due to intensive growth, which manifests itself more pronouncedly and in more acute form than in adult animals. Microelements exert their effect as part of enzyme systems and participate in various metabolic processes, which are especially intense in young, rapidly growing animals. The appearance of micronutrient deficiencies in an animal depends on the intensity of growth. If the content of microelements borders on deficiency, then it can manifest itself with accelerated growth.

DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH MICROELEMENT DEFICIENCIES

Table 1 illustrates the micronutrient deficiency of cow's milk. With regard to some microelements, the calves' needs are covered exactly to the extent that the liver reserves received from the mother make it possible to compensate for their deficiency. On the other hand, the content of microelements in milk can vary depending on the mother's diet, this is especially true for iodine and selenium, the content of which is very dependent on the diet of cows. The same is true with vitamins. B 12 in milk, the content of which depends to a certain extent on the cobalt content in the mother’s body. In contrast, for iron, copper and manganese, the calf's liver stores at birth will be critical.

Table 1. Comparison of microelements content in natural cow's milk and their needs in suckling calves.

Zinc deficiency in calves depends to a certain extent on the content of this trace element in cow's milk, that is, on the presence of this trace element in the mother's body. Meanwhile, despite the fact that zinc is very well absorbed by the calf from milk, it happens that the calf subsequently exhibits symptoms of zinc deficiency, probably due to changes in the absorption of this element by the calf. Under such circumstances, it is advisable to increase the zinc content in the calf diet (up to 40 - 50 mg/kg SM).

Borderline deficiencies in copper, cobalt, zinc and selenium are commonly found in feed in France. The lack of microelements in milk for feeding growing calves is directly related to the mineral content of cows. The composition of milk feed for calves must be adjusted to meet needs, while avoiding excess, because calves are very sensitive to poisoning (eg copper). French legislation limits the use of selenium to a maximum of 0.5 mg/kg SM.

SIGNS OF MICROELEMENT DEFICIENCY

Iron

Lack of iron in the body of a calf is a common condition, since milk always lacks some microelements; it (lack of iron) is associated with the feeding conditions of the cows. The shortage, however, is created by livestock breeders themselves in order to produce pale carcasses (“white calves”).

Dairy producers are now looking to add some iron to achieve some balance between anemia, light meat production (white carcasses) and maintaining a certain level of resistance in animals.

In France, legislation often changes, and the percentage of iron is within 15 mg Fe/kg S.M. In the UK it is 40 mg/kg SM, which provides better resistance in growing calves. In this case, the English market considers the resulting carcass coloring to be quite acceptable.

When anemia passes a certain limit (hematocrit 20%), animals exhibit gradual periodic loss of appetite.

Calves stop growing. At this stage, or if the anemia worsens, calves lose the ability to resist pathogens of infectious diseases, including conditionally pathogenic microflora. The mucous membranes of animals, the conjunctiva, become pale, and the calves themselves become more or less apathetic.

Copper

In adult animals, a sign of copper deficiency is loss of appetite; this symptom is rarely observed in calves; however, anemia and perversion of appetite are often observed in animals at this age. Anemia caused by copper deficiency can be distinguished from anemia caused by iron deficiency on the basis that the latter does not improve despite treatment of the anemia with iron.

Violation metabolic processes causes pathology of joints in the form of their enlargement and nodularity. In such cases, mild lameness most often occurs. Sometimes a certain rigidity of the muscles in the sacral area can cause the appearance in sick animals of an “ambling” type gait, characteristic of a dress horse. Spontaneous fractures often occur: they are always associated with mechanical injuries when jumping or running. It is necessary to pay attention to the frequency of these types of accidents, which increase sharply in a herd or in a region in which there is a copper deficiency.

The calf may experience phenomena of enzootic ataxia; it often appears soon after birth and is manifested by paralysis of first the hind limbs and then the forelimbs. The disease is caused by demyelination white matter spinal cord and organs of the central nervous system. The process develops relatively slowly, but irreversibly, despite the ongoing specific treatment diseases, demyelination phenomena are noticeable at autopsy.

Heart problems are very common in copper-deficient calves. They appear immediately after birth in animals born from mothers experiencing this deficiency. This early cardiac pathology differs from myopathy in that myopathy manifests itself predominantly between 1.5 and 2.5 months. life.

Mortality may be increased and calves may die unexpectedly during syncope. Calves prone to fainting have difficulty recovering, and they experience shortness of breath during the course of the disease.

Calves deficient in copper often experience diarrhea. It can also occur as a result of an imbalance in the content of other microelements, for example, with an excess of molybdenum, or simply with a lack of copper intake. Most characteristic symptom is hair discoloration. The discoloration may be well-defined or more or less diffuse (Figure 1). It is necessary to distinguish discolorations that arose as a result of crossing animals during breeding from acquired discolorations. Along with bleaching, hair may appear unevenly colored to varying degrees. Calves lacking trace elements are constantly in a state of chronic illness; their health returns to normal only after specific and effective treatment.

Vitamin B 12 or cobalt

Vitamin for suckling calf B 12 comes with milk. Once self-feeding begins, the calf can receive cobalt in the feed if its rumen flora is functioning normally.

Normally, the calf receives enough vitamin B 12 with mother's milk if her diet contains a sufficient amount of cobalt. Dairy nutrition must be changed if necessary according to vitamin content B 12.

In calves, anemia is common symptom vitamin deficiency B 12. In addition, the animal exhibits loss and perversion of appetite. Anemia does not stop after the administration of iron or copper supplements, and the emaciation of sick calves cannot be explained either by the amount of feed or the quality of the diet.

During the weaning period of calves, a sufficient intake of cobalt into the body has a very important for the formation of rumen microflora. Cobalt - important factor growth necessary for the balance of the flora.

Lack of iodine is accompanied by the appearance of goiter, hypertrophy thyroid gland caused by a lack of iodine-containing hormones.

Goiter may appear in calves at birth if their mothers were iodine deficient. Often these animals are sick Graves' disease, will be born without hair and with swollen, very thick skin.

Palpation of the thyroid gland and comparison of its volume with the gland in presumably healthy animals makes it possible to diagnose insufficiency.

As a result of observations, it was found that thyroid healthy calves weigh approximately 6.5-6.7 grams at birth and 7.2 grams at 3 weeks of life. With goiter, its weight is 12-15 grams.

Calves lacking iodine lack vitality and die from a nonspecific infection.

Manganese

Manganese deficiency occurs relatively slowly and appears to be less common in both young and adult animals.

Various authors describe abnormalities observed at birth: weakness of the feet, arthromyodysplasia, enlarged joints, weakness and crossing of the limbs, shortening of some bones such as brachial bone. In intensively reared calves, a deficiency of manganese is observed, which is manifested by convulsive contraction of the tongue muscles and swelling on the forelimbs at the tarsal joints, which causes lameness (Fig. 2).

Zinc

Zinc deficiency is relatively common in calves in France. It usually appears suddenly and relatively early. Clinical signs of the disease in calves are quite pronounced.

Loss of appetite in calves appears within a few days if they are fed milk with insufficient zinc content, and this is also accompanied by stunted growth. The intensity of these two symptoms depends to some extent on the degree of zinc deficiency. Under such conditions, calves experience hair loss and dermatitis mainly in the limbs and face (Fig. 3). It looks like the animals have their noses in hot milk. Microerosions do not heal due to friction with surrounding objects. Scarring and healing of wounds is impossible due to the fact that they constantly become infected, despite treatment with antibiotics.

In some places hyperkeratosis is observed (for example, in the halter area), where skin folds may ulcerate.

Joint enlargement is common, and lameness appears periodically.

Selenium

Myopathy, usually caused by selenium deficiency, is characterized by waxy degeneration muscle tissue(Fig. 4). Depending on the location, it causes lameness, heart problems or shortness of breath.

Degeneration of the muscle musculature immediately affects the patient’s posture, which is quite characteristic: the back is concave, the tail is raised, the limbs are connected (urination position). Trembling may be visible in some muscle groups (croup and others).

The animal's breathing is short and intermittent; the diaphragm is movable. Shortness of breath explained degenerative changes in muscles involved in respiration and heart failure.

Cardiac degeneration most often quickly leads to death. Sometimes some animals survive with varying degrees of degeneration of the heart muscle, in which case their zootechnical performance deteriorates significantly.

DIAGNOSIS OF MICROELEMENT DEFICIENCIES

Clinical diagnosis

Diagnosis presents significant difficulties, because the symptoms are not specific enough; micronutrient deficiencies cause more or less mild symptoms that are not fully manifested in one animal.

Anemia is quite typical for a lack of iron in the body. If anemia does not go away despite the intake of iron from food or injections of iron supplements, then in this case a copper or vitamin deficiency is suspected AT 12.

Hair bleaching and early heart failure are fairly well characterized by copper deficiency. . Constant exhaustion is characteristic of vitamin deficiency B 12 or cobalt.

The appearance of goiter in animals is characteristic of iodine deficiency.

The clinical manifestation of manganese deficiency is not pronounced, so it is usually difficult to make a diagnosis. In more late age in calves or already in adult animals, a characteristic straightening of the hock joints occurs; at the birth of calves, arthromyodysplasia is constantly detected, which in many cases is a clinical sign specific to manganese deficiency.

Hair loss and dermatitis are relatively common with zinc deficiency . These symptoms of the disease often appear against the background of loss of appetite. Myopathy is easily identified in association with claudication, shortness of breath and cardiac disorders. In some cases, the diagnosis of muscle degeneration can also be confirmed at autopsy.

Analytical diagnostics

Analysis of feed and control over its use allows us to identify the first signs of a lack of microelements.

By consuming only milk, calves receive insufficient nutrition, therefore, if milk nutrition were not supplemented with other feeds, there would always be a risk of micronutrient deficiencies.

Micronutrient intake from feed and mineral supplements should always be analyzed in weaned calves.

Plasma test results can provide information regarding iron, copper and zinc deficiencies in the body. According to hematocrit (ratio of volumes shaped elements and blood plasma) can be judged on the level of anemia present in the animal. In classical diagnosis, the hematocrit is sufficient to diagnose anemia .

A decrease in plasma copper appears suddenly after depletion of its reserves in the liver and causes severe deficiency. Ceruloplasmin is a protein with feroxidase activity containing eight copper atoms. It contains about 80% of serum copper. A quick determination of its content using special equipment is very useful and informative.

Ceruloplasmin remains stable for a week at 20 °C and contamination does not affect its content. It is advisable to express the results obtained from studies of copper content in terms of optical density, measured in µg of copper through a direct regression equation between total copper contained in plasma and ceruloplasmin.

The inflammatory reaction in the body is supposedly capable of greatly influencing the copper content in the blood, as shown in an experiment with a fixed abscess caused by turpentine oil.

The difficulty of using this parameter in diagnostics is the danger of contamination of the sample during its receipt or analysis and, in addition, for the study it is necessary to use plasma that is not subject to hemolysis, because contained in red blood cells four times more zinc than in plasma. Interpretation of the results is presented in Table 2. Unlike copper, the inflammatory response in the animal will cause a decrease in plasma zinc and affect the test outcome.

The manifestation of myopathy in calves can be detected very early using glutamine oxaloacetin transaminase. An increase in the plasma content of this enzyme occurs long before the animal displays clinical signs of the disease. In this case, it is important to analyze the level of glutamine pyruvic plasma transaminase in order to distinguish myopathy from liver damage (Table 2).

Creatine phosphokinase also appears very early in the plasma of calves with developing myopathy. Meanwhile, in some clinically ill calves, the content of creatinine phosphokinase returned to normal during illness. Determination of the content of this enzyme, despite its specificity and rapid appearance physiological state may not be sufficient to make a diagnosis of myopathy.

PREVENTION, TREATMENT

Table 1 shows rates recommended for suckling calves, which are also suitable for post-weaned calves. These standards coincide with the standards adopted by the Agricultural Research Council and are the average among the standards proposed by various authors. Experience suggests that the use of milk powder produced in France without added micronutrients sometimes results in clinically manifest cases, mainly deficiencies of copper, zinc or selenium. The only thing that can be done in this case is to increase the content of microelements, which will prevent the occurrence of cases of micronutrient deficiency.

table 2

Element or enzyme	Deficiency limit	Common (innate) meanings	Causes of errors
			Contamination > 150-120 Infection or inflammation > 120-150
			Contamination > 150 Infectious disease or inflammation< 80
Ceruloplasmin D.O. → µg/100 ml			Not sensitive to contamination Infectious disease or inflammation > 120-150 Plasma decomposition< 70
Transaminase G.O. Transaminase G.P.	Border of pathology