Methods for predicting and reducing risk of copper deficiency in a ruminant subject or a ruminant herd

A method for predicting copper deficiency in and treating copper deficiency in a ruminant subject or a ruminant herd, comprising:

• (a) receiving a dataset, the dataset comprising measured amounts of
• (i) fungal infection in a sample from the subject or at least one subject in the herd,
• (ii) expression of tyrosinase (Tyr) in the sample, and/or
• (iii) expression of tyrosinase-related protein (Tyrp) in the sample;
• and optionally further comprising measured amounts of
• (iv) selenium, cobalt, and/or zinc in the sample;
• and
• (b) processing the dataset, where processing comprises
• (i) calculating a risk index, wherein the calculating comprises:
• applying predetermined weights to the measured amounts;
• and
• solving one or more nonlinear differential equations, wherein the one or more nonlinear differential equations are based, at least in part, on the weights for the measured amounts;
• and
• (ii) correlating a risk index to an odds ratio, wherein the correlating comprises solving a logit probability model.

A system for predicting copper deficiency in a ruminant subject or a ruminant herd, comprising:

• (a) a data access device configured to receive measured amounts of fungal infection in a sample from the subject or at least one subject in the herd,
• (ii) expression of tyrosinase (Tyr) in the sample, and/or
• (iii) expression of tyrosinase-related protein (Tyrp) in the sample;
• and optionally measured amounts of
• (iv) selenium, cobalt, and/or zinc in the sample;
• and
• (b) a server in data communication with the data access device configured to perform:
• (i) calculating a risk index, wherein the calculating comprises:
• applying a predetermined weight to the measured amounts;
• and
• solving one or more nonlinear differential equations, wherein the one or more nonlinear differential equations is based, at least in part, on the weights for the measured amounts;
• and
• (ii) correlating the risk index to an odds ratio, wherein the correlating comprises solving a logit probability model.

A method for identifying fungal infection and expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein in a ruminant subject or a ruminant herd, comprising:

• (a) providing a sample from the subject or at least one subject in the herd;
• (b) measuring an amount of
• (i) fungal infection in the sample;
• (ii) expression of tyrosinase (Tyr) in the sample, and/or
• (iii) expression of tyrosinase-related protein (Tyrp) in the sample;
• (c) comparing the amount to a reference;
• and
• (d) determining whether the sample has the following changes relative to the reference
• (i) an increased fungal infection;
• (ii) a decreased expression of Tyr;
• and/or
• (iii) a decreased expression of Tyrp.