Copper toxicity

Copper toxicity is poisoning from excess copper, to which sheep are uniquely susceptible because they store copper in the liver until it suddenly releases. Chronic over-supplementation, copper-rich feeds, or feeding cattle or pig rations builds up liver copper for weeks to months. A stress trigger then causes a sudden haemolytic crisis with massive red-cell breakdown, jaundice, dark red-brown urine, weakness, and often death. Goats and camelids are more tolerant but can still be affected.