Arthritis Particularly of hip and hock joints. There is no cure. Coats Seen particularly in winter when feed is in short supply and stock are feeding off the ground. This leads to excessive iron intake. The coat is harsh and breaks off readily leaving bald areas that turn black.
Treatment is by supplementary copper administration.
Fertility A very difficult condition to quantify but in AI programs, hinds that have been on copper treatment seem to cycle better than those that have not been supplemented. Another condition difficult to quantify. Some reports from New Zealand indicate an improvement in velvet production after copper treatment. I find stags that have been supplemented cast earlier and cut earlier than un-supplemented stags. The best diagnosis is based on the levels of copper in the liver.