Copper poisoning in livestock has become a concern when animals are fed poultry litter from birds raised on diets containing copper as an additive. An alert was issued by Rainbow to all their contract growers that CuSO4 (cupric sulfate) is being added to the diet of ALL Rainbow Broiler Farms and as such litter from these farms is not suitable for livestock feed.
This practice can lead to elevated copper levels in the litter, potentially resulting in toxicity in livestock that consume it. Symptoms of copper poisoning can include lethargy, jaundice, red urine and death is severely affected animals. On the postmortem examinations done by the veterinarian the following macroscopic lesions were seen as in the pictures below.
It is crucial for livestock producers to be aware of the feed sources they utilize and to monitor for any signs of disease and consult with a veterinarian or nutritionist in the case where animals show signs of disease. Understanding the risks associated with copper in feed can help prevent adverse health outcomes in livestock.
Figure 1: Jaundice (yellow discoloration) of the carcass from copper poisoning
Figure 2: Yellowish liver
Figure 3: Dark red to purple (gun blue) kidneys from affected carcass which is very typical for chronic copper poisoning
