ABSTRACT
In goats, copper, selenium, cobalt, iodine and zinc have all been associated with deficiency disorders affecting health and productivity. Deficiencies are more likely to be encountered in grazing goats, goats fed forage only diets or goats fed home grown feed products – all in the absence of any mineral or trace element supplementation. Tocopherol is synthesised by plants and levels are typically more than adequate in green pasture and conserved forages. Cobalt deficiency is reported in ruminants worldwide, being a particular problem in sheep and, to a lesser extent, in goats. Iodine deficiency is a worldwide problem that leads to the development of an enlarged thyroid gland at birth: congenital goitre. Simple copper deficiency due to lack in the goat's diet can occur, but the majority of cases are secondary and linked to copper uptake antagonists. Deficiency during fetal development can lead to congenital swayback in newborn kids or delayed swayback developing between 1 week and several months after birth.
