The variation in the copper content of the blood of normal sheep

Abstract

The blood copper of normal sheep from the Institute flock at Cambridge was studied over the period October-April for three lambing seasons and showed no changes characteristic of pregnancy; in contrast to the behaviour of human beings and possibly sheep of low copper status. What changes there were took place in both pregnant and nonpregnant sheep, did not reflect the transfer of copper to the foetus and appeared to be due to extrinsic factors.Comparison of the blood copper of the lamb with that of its dam for four lambing seasons showed that it was a changing quantity at birth, being lower in the foetus, variable a few hours after birth and higher some days later than in the ewe.The blood copper of suckling lambs was studied from birth in February-March until June, for three seasons. There tended to be high values in the first 1 or 2 weeks of life, which decreased in the course of approximately 10 weeks.