- Location
- South east scotland
Anybody using these boluses. I normally use agrimin smart trace plus. Would need two boluses with the animax but even then still alot smaller.
i just need the copper and cobalt really. What are you doing now to get the copper cobalt and selenium into the ewes?We used them for a couple of years. They did make a difference to the sheep there's no doubt but they were very fiddly to administer. We were bolusing for cobalt, selenium and copper so needed three boluses together. Have stopped bolusing completely now due to to many losses from bolusing injuries.
i did not know that that was an option. Ive never heard of it. How long does the treated field maintain the levels?. Are the ewes showing good levels of the minirals in blood tests?(if you do them).Spreading it onto the ground. Approx ten kg of powder per acre on one third of the grazing every year. Costs about £20 per treated acre.
Anybody using these boluses. I normally use agrimin smart trace plus. Would need two boluses with the animax but even then still alot smaller.
We used them for a couple of years. They did make a difference to the sheep there's no doubt but they were very fiddly to administer. We were bolusing for cobalt, selenium and copper so needed three boluses together. Have stopped bolusing completely now due to to many losses from bolusing injuries.
I know, it's very frustrating but we were taking plenty of time to do them and still getting losses. I think it's the breed perhaps, they don't like being handled and would struggle as much as they could. Took some dead ones (mysterious deaths we thought) to the lab and were told they'd died from bolusing injuries. Were also told by our vet and the path lab too that it's a common occurrence and increasingly so.We've been bolusing well over 10 years and I can honestly say we've had no issues,yes some can be difficult however generally with patience it can be done satisfactorily.
I know, it's very frustrating but we were taking plenty of time to do them and still getting losses. I think it's the breed perhaps, they don't like being handled and would struggle as much as they could. Took some dead ones (mysterious deaths we thought) to the lab and were told they'd died from bolusing injuries. Were also told by our vet and the path lab too that it's a common occurrence and increasingly so.
Even one of our vets has had problems. He says he can do his suffolks quite easily but the smaller commercial ewes struggle with him too.
I know, it's very frustrating but we were taking plenty of time to do them and still getting losses. I think it's the breed perhaps, they don't like being handled and would struggle as much as they could. Took some dead ones (mysterious deaths we thought) to the lab and were told they'd died from bolusing injuries. Were also told by our vet and the path lab too that it's a common occurrence and increasingly so.
Even one of our vets has had problems. He says he can do his suffolks quite easily but the smaller commercial ewes struggle with him too.
Have had soil tests done and a blend of trace elements made up accordingly. As said, was advised to treat a third of the grazing each year. After three years we will re test the soil and we're hoping we'll need lower rates of application from then on. Only applied once so far so too early to comment on efficacy. Hoping to do some bloods in year two and three.i did not know that that was an option. Ive never heard of it. How long does the treated field maintain the levels?. Are the ewes showing good levels of the minirals in blood tests?(if you do them).
I can't like that @GTB, but it's what I've heard and been told as well.I know, it's very frustrating but we were taking plenty of time to do them and still getting losses. I think it's the breed perhaps, they don't like being handled and would struggle as much as they could. Took some dead ones (mysterious deaths we thought) to the lab and were told they'd died from bolusing injuries. Were also told by our vet and the path lab too that it's a common occurrence and increasingly so.
Even one of our vets has had problems. He says he can do his suffolks quite easily but the smaller commercial ewes struggle with him too.
Hill breeds and shedders seem to be much harder to bolus than more docile (and bigger) breeds.I can't like that @GTB, but it's what I've heard and been told as well.
I'm on the cusp of converting to bolusing, but this is the main issue that's holding me back.
It's hard enough keeping them alive as it is, let alone introducing another novel way, of them achieving their goal in life.
Interesting to hear that the issue might be breed dependant.
Anybody using these boluses. I normally use agrimin smart trace plus. Would need two boluses with the animax but even then still alot smaller.
we do ours in a Richie crate, wouldn't like to do Welsh mountain in a race.Hill breeds and shedders seem to be much harder to bolus than more docile (and bigger) breeds.
yes i need copper aswell. Good to knkw they are easier than the agriminThe 3 in 1 ones are just one bolus per ewe and contain iodine, selenium and colbalt. Why do they need 2 unless you need copper which mine being texals don't. I used agrimin before and these are a doddle to administer compared to the massive agrimin bullets.
What breed of sheep?I done some of mine last week and I reckon I bolused 50 with animax in the time it took me to do 20 with agrimin due to the fact the gun is smaller and they swallow them easier, wouldn't do them again if agrimin had to be used.