Liver testing

   

Liver testing background

While it has been shown that 20-30% of farms in NZ are deficient in at least one of the three main trace elements (copper, cobalt and selenium), only a small percentage of farmers are testing regularly. To test animals for trace elements, there are three methods:
 

Blood testing 

Liver biopsy (removing a piece of liver from a live animal) 

Liver sampling after slaughter at the meatworks

 
Liver trace element testing at the meat works has traditionally been organised by veterinarians liaising with the meat companies, but this has had the disadvantages of involving extra paperwork, and often liver samples were not collected when requested due to process failure. Ravensdown operates a simpler, easier and more reliable liver trace element testing scheme, which has been accepted by all meat companies except Alliance.
Regular liver testing will help you make sure your animals are not deficient in the three main trace elements copper, cobalt and selenium Regular liver testing will help you make sure your animals are not deficient in the three main trace elements (copper, cobalt and selenium)

Liver testing service

Liver samples are taken from animals slaughtered at the meatworks (not from live animals).
 
To request liver samples to be collected, simply attach a special green sticker (available from all Ravensdown account managers or by phoning the Customer Centre on 0800 100 123) to the Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form which travels with the stock to the meat works.
 
No separate laboratory submission form or faxing of any forms is required. Simply write your Ravensdown customer number and veterinarian’s (or veterinary practice’s) name on the sticker.
 
You must nominate a veterinarian to interprete the results and make recommendations. Your veterinarian will probably charge you for this service and this will be invoiced separate to any charging from Ravensdown.
 
Ravensdown will however invoice you for the sample collection and laboratory fees.
 

Sampling process

Five liver samples (or less if fewer animals are sent) are collected by AsureQuality NZ (meat inspecting service) and sent to Gribbles Laboratories, who will perform a standard set of tests, ie copper, cobalt and selenium for sheep; copper and selenium for cattle and deer.

The results are sent directly from the laboratory to your nominated veterinarian or veterinary practice, who will then interpret the results and make recommendations back to you directly.

The results are also supplied to Ravensdown and will be entered into our database (InFront) in the same way that soil test results would be stored for you.

Please Note: The Alliance meatworks do not take part in the Ravensdown scheme; they will only collect liver samples if one of their own ‘OptiHealth’ submission forms is used.

For further information, to make arrangements for testing or to speak with one of our animal health team about this service, please contact our Ravensdown Customer Centre on 0800 100 123.