Mystery-Virus/Rickettsial Infection/Deficiencies?

[Nanno]

Dave, I wonder if your goats get deficient in part because you have to feed so much alfalfa. I learned this year that alfalfa tends to be high in molybdenum which binds copper and selenium. This causes what is known as a "secondary deficiency," meaning they get enough minerals in their diet but can't absorb them because they are being blocked by an excess of other minerals such as iron, sulfur, or molybdenum. It was discovered that cows on primarily alfalfa diets have trouble with copper and selenium deficiencies even when their intake of those minerals is adequate. I learned that the hard way this past year because all of my goats were copper and selenium deficient. This was the first year I fed primarily alfalfa. From now on I'll be feeding primarily grass with alfalfa as a supplement for does in milk.