DATASHEET: IODINE “COMBO” FOR SHEEP AND GOATS
INTRODUCTION
Iodine “Combo” contains a number of essential elements essential for sheep and goats to achieve their productive and
reproductive potential. Iodine deficiency in sheep and goats is a common problem resulting in goitre in new-born lambs
and kids, and an associated poor survival rate of the newborn. It occurs because the soils of the area are deficient in
Iodine, or an iodine deficiency has occurred because of the interference with iodine metabolism with high goitrogen
Brassica species associated with the feeding of supplementary crops.
INGREDIENTS
What does Iodine “Combo” contain?
Iodine “Combo” comes in a 1 Litre container of concentrate which needs to be made up with water. The 1 Litre of
concentrate is made up to 8 Litres by diluting with water. It contains:
Potassium Iodide
Potassium Iodide is a soluble form of iodine ideal to prevent iodine deficiency.
Sodium Selenate
Sodium selenate is a readily available form of selenium used to prevent selenium deficiency.
Copper Chelate
This is an organic form of Chelate as an EDTA salt. These forms of copper are safe and easily absorbed.
Cobalt Chelate
This is an organic form of Chelate as an EDTA salt. These forms of cobalt are safe and easily absorbed.
Zinc Chelate
This is an organic form of Chelate as an EDTA salt. These forms of zinc are safe and easily absorbed.
The ingredients of 1 Litre of concentrate and ingredients per dose for a 75Kg ewe are:
Elemental
Ingredients / L
Concentrate
Dose per 75Kg ewe
Ingredients / Dose 75 Kg ewe
Copper
2.1
gm/L
5
ml
1.31
mg/dose
Cobalt
300
mg/L
5
ml
0.19
mg/dose
Iodine
504.9
g/L
5
ml
315.56
mg/dose
Selenium
500
mg/L
5
ml
0.25
mg/dose
Zinc
560
mg/L
5
ml
0.35
mg/dose
DOSE RATE
The dose rate of the diluted drench is 1ml per 15Kg liveweight. A 1 Litre of concentrate provides sufficient drench to
dose 1600 x 75Kg ewes.
Warning:
Do not exceed the stated dose and frequency. Do not use at the same time as other selenised fertiliser, prill or product
without consulting a veterinarian.
Caution:
In sheep, liver levels of copper may be quite variable. Consequently there is always the risk of copper poisoning (death)
occurring following copper supplementation in this species.
This product is exempt from registration, being an oral nutritional compound compliant with S4 of the ACVM regulations
2001.
THE ROLE OF TRACE ELEMENTS
OVERVIEW
The roles of Trace Elements are well known for the importance they play in ensuring healthy and productive
livestock. Trace elements are a group of 15 elements essential for health and productivity of all animals. In
New Zealand, at least four of these, namely Selenium, Copper, Cobalt and Iodine are deficient in the soils of
large areas of land devoted to farming.
Trace elements are required for the manufacture and use of enzymes and hormones. Adequate daily intake
of these is required for maintaining efficient metabolism, resistance to disease, detoxification processes,
healthy growth, good reproduction, and efficient feed conversion. If these elements are inadequate, or if the
daily requirements are above what can be obtained from natural feed (like during pregnancy and periods of
stress) then the diet should be supplemented.
A severe shortage can lead to clinical disease. However, most shortages are marginal and the symptoms are
sub-clinical. These can be subtle but significant production losses, poor health and stress. The production
losses lead to lower profitability.
FACTORS AFFECTING TRACE ELEMENTS IN ANIMALS
Many factors affect the vitamin and trace element status of individual farms. They include:
 Being in an area known to be deficient of a trace element. Most areas of known deficiency have been
defined by production response trials, soil, herbage and animal testing.
 Recent fertiliser history. Many trace elements have been applied with fertiliser in the past. Where high
levels of fertiliser have been applied, pushing pasture growth limits, the levels of trace elements in
grass may be lower.
 Seasonal climatic factors.
 Extremes of weather (droughts and floods). Flooding is likely to cause leaching and depositing silt.
 Levels of supplementary feeding. What do we know about the levels of trace elements in the newer
feeds like Palm Kernel and Tapioca?
 Levels of production. Higher producing cows have greater demands.
 Other mineral supplementation including zinc for facial eczema control suppressing copper levels, and
molybdenum in fertiliser to boost clover growth causing secondary copper deficiency.
BLOOD AND LIVER TESTING
Remember that livestock are twice removed from the soil. Minerals in the soil are taken up by the grass,
which is consumed by the animal. This means that soil testing, or indeed grass testing, does not necessarily
reflect the animal status. For this reason it is recommended that twice yearly blood tests and / or liver
biopsies of animals are taken.
OUR TRACE ELEMENTS ARE CHELATES
The trace elements copper, cobalt and zinc in Iodine “Combo” are EDTA chelates, which are safe to use as
prescribed by your veterinarian. They are easily absorbed and very effective on a “weight for weight” basis.
However, some of the elements in these formulations are potentially toxic; especially Selenium and Copper,
so any instructions by your prescribing veterinarian should be carefully followed.
BASIC INFORMATION ON COMPONENTS
SELENIUM
Selenium deficiency is commonly associated with poor growth and infertility in spite of good feeding levels. Selenium and
Vitamin E deficiency are normally associated with a weakened immune system, less tolerance to stress and are characterised
by white muscle disease in both calves and sheep. This condition often appears as a result of the animal’s mother having low
vitamin E and / or low Selenium reserves during pregnancy.
The Selenium-responsive condition of poor fertility is most often due to poor conception, and a high incidence of early
embryonic deaths. A deficiency of Selenium can result in a higher incidence of retained foetal membranes, and because of its
role in immunity; an increase in somatic cell counts and mastitis can result.
COPPER
Copper deficiency in livestock can be primary (low dietary Copper levels) or secondary. Secondary deficiency occurs when
interaction between copper and other elements reduces the absorption and availability of copper from the diet.
Molybdenum and sulphur are the two most important elements in secondary copper deficiency, but Iron (soil contamination of
pasture), Zinc (drenching for eczema) and others also play a role. Typically Copper deficiency results in a combination of the
following symptoms:
 Intermittent scouring
 Light tinge to the coat, especially around the eyes
 High empty rate in cows
 Weak bones in growing animals.
Sheep can still have a significant requirement for Copper even when pasture levels are adequate because:
 Zinc drenching in late summer and autumn depletes the ewe’s copper reserves.
 Foetal demand is increasing.
 Pasture copper levels tend to decrease during winter, while molybdenum and sulphur levels tend to increase.
 Break feeding can result in high soil and therefore iron intake by the ewe.
 If total dry matter intake is restricted, so copper intake is restricted.
 Stress increases requirements.
COBALT
Cobalt in ruminants is required for the production of Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is formed in the rumen by micro-organisms,
so it is necessary for stock to continually ingest cobalt in the feed. There is no significant storage of Cobalt within the animals
so requirements have to be met by daily intake, but the vitamin B12 once it is produced can be stored in the liver. The main
role in Vitamin B12 is in energy and amino-acid metabolism.
Symptoms of a deficiency include:
 Poor growth rates
 Rough bleached hair on coats
 Scouring
 Poor milk production
 Anaemia
Methods of supplementation include application in fertiliser, drenching, licks and injecting with Vitamin B12. Demand may
be increased during periods of stress.
ZINC
The role of Zinc in protecting stock from facial eczema is well established. Zinc is also an important constituent of a large
number of enzymes affecting protein synthesis, immunity and also maintaining epithelial tissues (skin and membranes). As
there is no significant store of zinc in the body, zinc requirements have to be met by a daily intake.
Pasture Zinc levels can vary considerably from one region to another, but are generally considered to be above the minimum
requirement provided stock are well fed. During periods of stress when immunity is usually depressed, there may be an
increased requirement for trace elements including Zinc.
Supplementing with Zinc during the transition period (3 weeks pre-calving to 3 weeks post-calving), has been shown in some
trials to assist in maintaining a healthy immune system and reducing the incidence of mastitis, uterine infections, etc. Zinc has
also been shown in some trial work to reduce the incidence of certain lameness conditions and lowers somatic cell counts in
some herds.
It is likely more time will be spent on focussing on the role of Zinc and other trace minerals in immunity. Signs of deficiency
of Zinc can also include reduced dry matter intakes and poor feed conversion efficiency. Hair can be lost around the mouth
and eyes and there can be stiffness in the joints. Skin can eventually become thickened and scaly. Lower conception rates have
also been noted in many herds.
IODINE
The role of Iodine in mammals is in the formation of the thyroid hormones. These hormones have a significant impact on the
growth and development of the foetus, and protein and energy production in general. Symptoms in the newborn include
goitre, blindness, hairlessness, and the birth of weak or stillborn calves and lambs. In older stock deficiency can result in
depressed wool and milk production, suppressed heats and poor reproductive performances. Stock ingesting goitrogenic feeds
such as Brassicas, Soya beans, and others will have an increased iodine requirement.