CA Drought=Radical Drop in Copper and Selenium in Grasslands?

[islandrider]

Yesterday one of the cattle ranchers told me that after some months of noticing something NQR about their cows, they drew blood and found the cows are radically depleted in copper and selenium. The vet told them this is drought related, that the grass just doesn’t have the nutrients it historically has due to the lack of water.

We are in the SF Coastal area BTW.

My horse lives out there too. I’ve noticed that this year I am having a very hard time keeping weight on him. Usually the horses are barges this time of year. Not so now. Wondering about the selenium/copper link, and going to research it further. He used to be on a selenium supplement (red cell) which seemed to make him kind of hot-however he was much younger then.

Anyone have any hands-on experience with this kind of thing?

[Beentheredonethat]

I’m in your area, but I always feed vitamin E and selenium because my vet says our hay tends to be low anyway.

[Appsolute]

I am in the same area as well (where are the coast are you islandrider? I used to be Pescadero / HMB - but now across the bay).

I feel LMF Supper Supplement - its a pound a day ration balancer designed for west coast hays. It has added “Sel-Plex” for selenium, and also has added E.

http://lmffeeds.com/products/super-supplement/

[SuckerForHorses]

He used to be on a selenium supplement (red cell) which seemed to make him kind of hot-however he was much younger then.

No help with drought experience affecting nutrition.

However, Red Cell is an iron supplement that can provide added energy, so that may be why he was hotter while getting the supplement.

[newhorsemommy]

I’m also somewhat close and use the LMF Super Supplement. Another good choice would be Horsetech’s High Point vitamin/mineral supplement. There are different formulations depending on whether you feed mostly grass or alfalfa. Same for the LMF.