The effect of trace elements on stock liveweight gain on West Coast soils

Abstract

The results of trials investigating lamb and calf live weight responses to the trace elements selenium, copper, and cobalt are reported. Twenty-seven trials involved Se eight trials involved Cu, and four trials involved Co. When the trials were grouped on the basls of sod type the only concluslve result was a significant calf live weight gain response to Se on recent soils. However, there was a large variation in treatment effect between trials within soil types, and more trial work is required before discarding the posslblhty that effects other than soil type may exist.

Keywords:

• Live weight
• selenium
• copper
• cobalt