Sheep Farming

Sheep Copper Management and Toxicity Prevention

Copper toxicity is a preventable but frequently fatal condition in sheep requiring careful dietary management and feed monitoring.

Key Facts

Sheep are uniquely sensitive to copper toxicity compared to other livestock
Copper accumulates in the liver until a threshold triggers acute haemolytic crisis
Most UK pastures provide adequate copper without supplementation
Feeding cattle or pig feed to sheep is a common cause of copper poisoning
Breeds including Texel are particularly copper-sensitive

Welfare Considerations

Copper toxicity crisis causes severe haemolytic anaemia, jaundice, and rapid death with significant suffering. The acute crisis phase is usually fatal. Prevention through careful dietary management is far more effective than treatment. Stockpeople must understand copper risks and avoid inadvertent supplementation through cross-species feeding or high-copper fertilisers.

What You Can Do

Never feed cattle or pig feed products to sheep without checking copper content
Test pastures before applying copper-containing fertilisers on sheep grazing land
Consult a vet before providing copper supplementation to sheep