Sheep Mineral Bolus

brownswiss

Have any of you priced the Tracesure Mineral bolus this year. I paid about 74 cents each last year . Was talking to the rep yesterday and he said they had improved the bolus and that there would be copper boluses in the container this year so you would be giving 2 instead of the one last year. He said they would retail at about €1.80 for the 2 boluses. I am hoping that prices have not been pushed up just because mineral supplementation is one of the tasks in the sheep welfare scheme

brownswiss

I heard that the trials on cobalt boluses are showing them as far from satisfactory . Any of you in Cobalt deficient areas relying solely on the bolus ?

MayoAreMagic

brownswiss wrote: »

I heard that the trials on cobalt boluses are showing them as far from satisfactory . Any of you in Cobalt deficient areas relying solely on the bolus ?

Im not surprised, in my opinion they are just an expensive fad. Any guys I know who are using them are also drenching - the same drenching the animals were doing fine on before the bullets came on the scene. Their ewes dont look any different now than they did then either...

brownswiss

Any of you using https://www.cosecureboluses.com/

It seems that glass boluses are the only type that can give any guarantee of supplying the correct amount of minerals over their useful life .

If this is true then are the other boluses a complete waste of money.

Have any of you seen any Independent research on boluses?

Thanks

cuff92

brownswiss wrote: »

Any of you using https://www.cosecureboluses.com/

It seems that glass boluses are the only type that can give any guarantee of supplying the correct amount of minerals over their useful life .

If this is true then are the other boluses a complete waste of money.


Have any of you seen any Independent research on boluses?

Thanks

Used mayo healthcare bolus the last 3 years. Had to stop. I think the sheep actually went back. Esp this year u think some ewes are in v bad condition coming in off the hills. Even considering holding 10 r 12 ewes back from the ram because there as bad.

brownswiss

cuff92 wrote: »

Used mayo healthcare bolus the last 3 years. Had to stop. I think the sheep actually went back. Esp this year u think some ewes are in v bad condition coming in off the hills. Even considering holding 10 r 12 ewes back from the ram because there as bad.

.

I think they are a scam

farming93

I hope they're not! I only used them for the first time this year. Sheep seem in good condition so far I gave them about 2 months ago.

cuff92

farming93 wrote: »

I hope they're not! I only used them for the first time this year. Sheep seem in good condition so far I gave them about 2 months ago.

Everyone's ground is different. U prob be fine. Just didn't suit our stock anyways.

razor8

Bolus's are useless unless you get levels high by drenching first. They are to maintain levels rather than up levels IME

brownswiss

Bought the Cosecure Bolus today. It is expensive but it seems to be the only glass bolus. The others are a bit of a scam I think. I think the mayo bolus is being advertised as good for 12 months..... I doubt if it is good for 1 month. I would love to see the basis for their claims

J.O. Farmer

brownswiss wrote: »

Bought the Cosecure Bolus today. It is expensive but it seems to be the only glass bolus. The others are a bit of a scam I think. I think the mayo bolus is being advertised as good for 12 months..... I doubt if it is good for 1 month. I would love to see the basis for their claims

Where is the basis for bimeda's claims apart from their website. I assume when you don't believe mayo healthcare due to a lack of evidence that you have found something independant to back up the glass bolus rather than the sales pitch on the bimeda website.

Sheep breeder

Reports that a lot of the glass bolus are being thrown back up due being cold and poor staying power in the ewe, used the mayo 5 in 1 on the ewes last week instead of the agrimin, good to see if the ewes stay healthy.

brownswiss

Sheep breeder wrote: »

Reports that a lot of the glass bolus are being thrown back up due being cold and poor staying power in the ewe, used the mayo 5 in 1 on the ewes last week instead of the agrimin, good to see if the ewes stay healthy.

I wonder are the guys bringing them to room temperature first?.

It is very difficult to make a judgement on any of the boluses as plenty of grass, dosing and feed will keep them healthy without the bolus.

ganmo

brownswiss wrote: »

I wonder are the guys bringing them to room temperature first?.

Is that part of the instructions?

charolais0153

ganmo wrote: »

Is that part of the instructions?

Ys. Leave them in the van with the heater on

ganmo

charolais0153 wrote: »

Ys. Leave them in the van with the heater on

And are ya meant to go back to the van for each ewe?

It would take us at least an hour to go through a batch, surely they'd cool down sittin on the wall in the shed

J.O. Farmer

ganmo wrote: »

And are ya meant to go back to the van for each ewe?

It would take us at least an hour to go through a batch, surely they'd cool down sittin on the wall in the shed

No your supposed to put them into your jocks to keep them warm.
Then you just have to hope nobody walks in as your rummaging around for the next one while surrounded by sheep.

ganmo

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

No your supposed to put them into your jocks to keep them warm.
Then you just have to hope nobody walks in as your rummaging around for the next one while surrounded by sheep.

Haha
You'd be the talk of the town after that!

brownswiss

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

Where is the basis for bimeda's claims apart from their website. I assume when you don't believe mayo healthcare due to a lack of evidence that you have found something independant to back up the glass bolus rather than the sales pitch on the bimeda website.

. I have no interest in promoting any company. If you know of another glass bolus I wiil gladly buy it. Google glass bolus and avoid company websites. Cobalt levels are difficult to maintain. I can find independent research on the first click regarding glass boluses improving a sheep's cobalt levels. Can you find any independent research on non glass boluses. We are all looking for the best value product and we should be trying to help each other

brownswiss

Looking for advice from any of you who have used the Bimeda bolus....

Had my first attempt today and found it very frustrating. The gun is some dog to get down and sometimes does not push out the bolus. Had lots of second attempts and a few numerous attempts . Not even half way through them.

Thanks

Highland

You are correct the Glass Bolus has undergone independent testing which has demonstrated that the bolus stays put and dissolves slowly over time. It also contain Ionic Copper which is more effective than copper oxide used in some. Its the only one I would have confidence in. They are a bit tricky to get down as they are big. I didn't find any problem with the applicator, but the odd sheep would spit it back out so you might have to put it down a second or even third time. If a lot of sheep are spitting them back out you are probably not putting them back far enough.

brownswiss

Highland wrote: »

You are correct the Glass Bolus has undergone independent testing which has demonstrated that the bolus stays put and dissolves slowly over time. It also contain Ionic Copper which is more effective than copper oxide used in some. Its the only one I would have confidence in. They are a bit tricky to get down as they are big. I didn't find any problem with the applicator, but the odd sheep would spit it back out so you might have to put it down a second or even third time. If a lot of sheep are spitting them back out you are probably not putting them back far enough.

...

Having great difficulty with these boluses. Trying to do a big ram today and the gun was as far as it could go and bolus came back up. The gun Osmonds supply is far longer and the bolus I used last year was smaller & a neater gun....

Probably need practice

razor8

are you sure your not using a cattle gun. i use cosecures own brand gun and ive done hundreds without any issues

brownswiss

razor8 wrote: »

are you sure your not using a cattle gun. i use cosecures own brand gun and ive done hundreds without any issues

I hope not... Got the boluses and gun from the vet

razor8

Have you a picture of it?

charolais0153

razor8 wrote: »

Have you a picture of it?

Cattle gun wouldnt fit back their mouth. He is probably not putting the gun back far enough and the ewes are able to regurgitate them

brownswiss

charolais0153 wrote: »

Cattle gun wouldnt fit back their mouth. He is probably not putting the gun back far enough and the ewes are able to regurgitate them

.

I feel I am putting it back far enough.... a lot of resistance to the gun, much more than last years gun. Obviously I am doing something wrong but other tan putting the handle into their mouth i do not know how to get it back further

https://www.google.ie/search?q=cosecure+sheep+bolus+gun&rlz=1C1AOHY_enIE708IE708&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFhcuanKXXAhWG2RoKHTjIArAQ_AUICigB&biw=1152&bih=647#imgrc=U2UE9AFbvpjpUM:

The one with the unusual handle

brownswiss

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/sheep-bolusing-hints-and-tips.135162/

Maybe the Dept of Ag should introduce a gun licence and specialised training like the sprayer licence.

brownswiss

Have any of you blood tested your ewes before they got any ration to see if the Boluses worked ?

brownswiss

" from the company's site ..NS

Supplies ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine at levels compatible with the animal’s daily requirements for up to eight months."

I used the best bolus I could find at the start of the mating season and I have had the worst lamb losses since I started sheep farming.

Because I used the bolus I opted for our co op's 3 way mix that did not contain minerals and only changed to their Lactating ewe nut when lambing began . Many of the lambs did not want to suck and had no vigour. Ewes were in good condition. I have brought lambs to the lab but do not expect a definitive result as owing to being so busy and under pressure with lambing I did not bring the lambs soon enough

ganmo

brownswiss wrote: »

" from the company's site ..NS

Supplies ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine at levels compatible with the animal’s daily requirements for up to eight months."

I used the best bolus I could find at the start of the mating season and I have had the worst lamb losses since I started sheep farming.

Because I used the bolus I opted for our co op's 3 way mix that did not contain minerals and only changed to their Lactating ewe nut when lambing began . Many of the lambs did not want to suck and had no vigour. Ewes were in good condition. I have brought lambs to the lab but do not expect a definitive result as owing to being so busy and under pressure with lambing I did not bring the lambs soon enough

‘Up to’ 2 of the smallest words in the English language but covers up a lot!

wrangler

brownswiss wrote: »

" from the company's site ..NS

Supplies ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine at levels compatible with the animal’s daily requirements for up to eight months."

I used the best bolus I could find at the start of the mating season and I have had the worst lamb losses since I started sheep farming.

Because I used the bolus I opted for our co op's 3 way mix that did not contain minerals and only changed to their Lactating ewe nut when lambing began . Many of the lambs did not want to suck and had no vigour. Ewes were in good condition. I have brought lambs to the lab but do not expect a definitive result as owing to being so busy and under pressure with lambing I did not bring the lambs soon enough

I'd take no short cuts here regards feeding pregnant ewes, as you see there's nothing as labour intensive as getting it wrong.
Sheep require the major minerals sodium, chlorine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and trace minerals, including cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and selenium and you've topped up only three of those.
To do it right now you'd really have to bloodtest the worst offending ewes, but it's far easier just to feed ration with the proper minerals in them.
Giving ewes a bolus before lambing will transfer minerals to the lambs in the milk....an added bonus.
We bolus here premating and prelambing, but cobalt levels are low here and dosing cobalt would have to be done very often.
I don't think theres any bolus that gives the sheep the required amount of cobalt and would be depending on up to 50% to come from the feed.

Sheep breeder

wrangler wrote: »

I'd take no short cuts here regards feeding pregnant ewes, as you see there's nothing as labour intensive as getting it wrong.
Sheep require the major minerals sodium, chlorine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and trace minerals, including cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and selenium and you've topped up only three of those.
To do it right now you'd really have to bloodtest the worst offending ewes, but it's far easier just to feed ration with the proper minerals in them.
Giving ewes a bolus before lambing will transfer minerals to the lambs in the milk....an added bonus.
We bolus here premating and prelambing, but cobalt levels are low here and dosing cobalt would have to be done very often.
I don't think theres any bolus that gives the sheep the required amount of cobalt and would be depending on up to 50% to come from the feed.

Agree with what you are saying, we bolus ewes and when selecting rations two major things are minerals and soya bean. One year with got white muscle disease due to low mineral and had to inject at birth and last time we purchased ration from that company.

razor8

brownswiss wrote: »

" from the company's site ..NS

Supplies ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine at levels compatible with the animal’s daily requirements for up to eight months."

I used the best bolus I could find at the start of the mating season and I have had the worst lamb losses since I started sheep farming.

Because I used the bolus I opted for our co op's 3 way mix that did not contain minerals and only changed to their Lactating ewe nut when lambing began . Many of the lambs did not want to suck and had no vigour. Ewes were in good condition. I have brought lambs to the lab but do not expect a definitive result as owing to being so busy and under pressure with lambing I did not bring the lambs soon enough

Definitely wouldn’t be relying on bolus’s to supply all mineral requirements. Use the Bolus here to try & maintain mineral levels but still drench to keep levels high

charolais0153

Sheep breeder wrote: »

Agree with what you are saying, we bolus ewes and when selecting rations two major things are minerals and soya bean. One year with got white muscle disease due to low mineral and had to inject at birth and last time we purchased ration from that company.

Which company?

ganmo

charolais0153 wrote: »

Which company?

selenium is one of the harder minerals to get right with the gap between deficiency and toxicity is small with both being deadly but a good dose of vit e would of prevented white muscle disease