Iron (Fe) 50 - 1000 ppm
The major function of iron is as a component of hemoglobin, required for oxygen transport. It is also a component of certain enzymes. The major iron deficiency symptom is anemia. Anemia can also be caused by blood loss due to several factors, including injury, internal parasites such as barberpole worm or liver fluke, and a bad case of external parasites such as lice. Iron is stored in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Milk is very low in iron; therefore, kids raised for a long time on milk alone will develop anemia. Soil contamination on forages can provide significant levels of dietary iron. Iron sulfate is a common means of adding iron to the diet. Forages in some areas have excessively high levels of iron that suppress utilization of other trace minerals.
Reference: Hart, S. 2008. Meat Goat Nutrition. Pages 58-83 in Proc. 23rd Ann. Goat Field Day, Langston University, Langston, OK.
