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Copper as a Critical Micronutrient
Copper (Cu) is an essential trace micronutrient for all mammals and one misunderstood, left out or thought of as “too complicated”. Here are some brief thoughts on this important mineral that is critical for fleece as well as other body systems.
Copper is an essential co-factor for many enzyme systems within the mammalian body. Copper is involved in the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for color in fiber. Copper also plays an important role in bone, digestion, connective tissue formation and iron metabolism, as well as in the formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying red blood protein. However, too much copper is just as bad as not enough.
Copper has an integral relationship with another trace mineral, molybdenum. Copper and molybdenum must be present in a 6:1 to 10 :1 ratio, or the dietary copper will not be available for the body to use. Again, excess copper in the diet will alter this ratio, leading to problems.
The amount of copper required in the diet (measured in parts-per-million, or ppm) differs widely with different animal species. For example, alpacas need approximately 15-25 ppm of Cu in their total diet (water, forages, mineral mix, pellets/grains). Sheep need far less copper or 2-8 ppm in their diets. Horses require far more than alpacas with total diets often containing copper at over 200 ppm. Pigs need up to 250 ppm and cattle copper requirements are closer to 100 ppm. Thus, the wrong feed can result in highly inappropriate copper levels.
It is extremely important to know what you are feeding. A complete diet with copper levels adequate for an alpaca is deadly for sheep. Conversely, alpacas fed diet formulated for sheep (containing lower levels of copper) will develop a copper deficiency. Horse feeds can be toxic to alpacas.
A common farm management practice is to add crystalline copper sulfate to ponds as a control measure for snails, slugs and weeds. Copper treated water should not be the primary source for alpaca drinking water or toxicity can occur. Some equine nutritional supplements, “blood-builders,” contain high levels of both iron and copper, and could cause toxicity in alpacas due to excess copper. Foot baths (designed for horse hooves) also contain large amount of copper. Read labels carefully.
Municipal ground water samples rarely show high copper levels. Some lakes and ponds have experienced washout from mining debris resulting in high copper levels (in the mountain west, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and other states where smelting was common). A pond or lake with a very bright blue tint may have high copper levels. The EPA has set a limit of 1.3 ppm of copper in drinking water, so it would be unusual to find high levels in any municipal water system. Corrosion of copper pipe by overly acid water can add copper to the household water, but this rarely causes problems.
We strongly recommend professional nutritional advice and a reputable mill when formulating alpaca feeds. Dr. Norm Evans has written a superb book (Alpaca Field Manual) in which he details alpaca nutrition.
Many feed mills assume that alpacas are like other ruminants (like cattle and sheep) and mix in too much copper, or not enough. Feeds with such imbalances will result in poor alpaca health.
Nutrition Overview
Nutrition Terms
Transfer Factor
Problems with Rye
Bermudagrass
Orchardgrass Choices
Alfalfa Forage
Nutrition Issues
Copper a Micronutrient