Zinc Deficiency in Sheep and Goats: Three Field Cases
June 1984
in “
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
”
Studysummary In this study, zinc supplementation rapidly improved conditions such as anorexia, depression, and foot soreness in sheep and goats diagnosed with zinc deficiency, along with healing skin lesions and resumption of hair and wool growth. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
Zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 2 flocks of sheep and a herd of goats, leading to symptoms such as alopecia, wool eating, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, abnormal hoof growth, and a closed stance with arched back and bowed hindlimbs. The animals also experienced anorexia, depression, and foot soreness, which improved rapidly after zinc supplementation. Skin lesions healed, and hair and wool growth resumed. The cause of the deficiency was not determined.
