What is one risk of over-supplementing vitamins and minerals in diets?

Over-supplementing vitamins and minerals in sheep diets can lead to toxicity and nutritional imbalances, posing significant health risks. Each vitamin and mineral has a recommended level that, when exceeded, can result in harmful effects. For example, excessive levels of certain vitamins, like vitamin D, can lead to calcification of tissues, while too much selenium can cause poisoning. Similarly, an imbalance might occur if an excess of one mineral disrupts the absorption of another, leading to deficiencies or toxicities even in otherwise present nutrients.

In contrast, while improved energy levels and activity, enhanced wool texture, and lengthened lifespan are desirable outcomes in sheep management, these results are not direct consequences of over-supplementation. In fact, the careful management of these nutrients is essential to maintaining overall health and productivity, making toxicity and imbalances a more realistic concern when it comes to sheep diets.