Beyond bacterial contamination, what specific water quality parameter, if present in high concentrations, directly interferes with copper absorption in dairy cattle?

The specific water quality parameter that, if present in high concentrations, directly interferes with copper absorption in dairy cattle is sulfur, primarily in the form of sulfate. When dairy cattle consume water high in sulfate, the sulfate enters the rumen, which is the first and largest compartment of their stomach, essential for microbial digestion of fibrous feed. Within the rumen, specialized microorganisms reduce the consumed sulfate into sulfide. This sulfide then reacts directly with dietary copper that is also present in the rumen. This reaction forms copper sulfide, which is an insoluble compound. Because copper sulfide is insoluble, it cannot be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the cow's bloodstream. Consequently, even if the cow's diet contains adequate amounts of copper, the formation of insoluble copper sulfide prevents the copper from being utilized by the animal, leading to a conditioned copper deficiency.