From: Oogie McGuire (graze-l_at_witt.ac.nz)
Date: 05/18/04

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>The pasture mineral variations you refer to can be because of 
>different soil types in a paddock.
>
>When taking soil and pasture samples stick to one soil type.

The soils professor who assisted in our soils samples considers them 
all the same type of soils.

>High organic matter soils are usually lower in copper and can (not 
>always) be higher in molybdenum.
>
>What are the problems you've had with molybdenum or selenium?

Mo ties up other minerals making them not available. While we have 
not had diagnosed white muscle disease we have had things that are 
similar.

>What pasture levels do you have?

Not sure I understand, the forage levels are also very different.

>What animal health problems do you have?

Lower fertility than we ought to have by breed averages. Lower 
fecundity as well. Immune system problems showing up as increased 
respiratory problems like pneumonia and lots of lung congestion. Some 
heart attacks similar to but not classical white muscle disease.

>You have an orchard. Are the copper tests from an orchard? If so, 
>pasture under trees which have ben sprayed with copper will be 
>higher.

That is what everyone says. But this orchard has been in the family 
for 30 years, and was certified organic most of that time. We are 
seeing a slight increase in copper under the trees but not nearly 
enough to keep the sheep healthy.

>Re your - 13.1 ppm zinc on a DM basis while the other section has 25 ppm.
>Both are below the minimum of 45 ppm so about 8 kg/ha of zinc 
>sulphate should be applied (7 lb/acre).

I also need to add 1 pound per acre of boron. But I can't find anyone 
willing to apply such small amounts of individual minerals at all. I 
can only get mixes that include a lot more and only if I also apply 
something like 200 pounds per acre nitrogen can I get anyone to come 
do it. So we are adding a lot of extra zinc to the mineral mix we 
give the sheep per vets orders.

>How many samples did you take. 30 to 40 should be taken and mixed, 
>all after washing hands in pure clean water, or using clean gloves

Soils were collected using latex gloves. We take 10-12 samples from 
each location and sample at least 4-6 locations in each field and mix 
them in a paper bag.

Forage samples are collected with 20-30 handfuls of forage from each 
general section collected using sterile exam gloves.

Hay samples are taken with a hay coring device. We take cores out 
from at least 8-10 bales per lot and mix that as the sample.





-- 
Oogie McGuire - oogiem@desertweyr.com
Weyr Associates - Multimedia and Web Authoring Services & Consulting
Desert Weyr - CMK Arabian horses and Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
http://www.desertweyr.com/ 
Paonia, CO USA

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