Are mineral drenches worth it?

[Oldmacdonald]

For lambs?

Went off them years ago, but wondered about giving the lambs a drench this year at working and clik time. 8 weeks old.

Do they have any lasting effects for longer than a couple days?

 

[mixedfmr]

For lambs?

Went off them years ago, but wondered about giving the lambs a drench this year at working and clik time. 8 weeks old.

Do they have any lasting effects for longer than a couple days?

Like you, unsure of their effect, BUT i have always given one to lambs at weaning with heptovac P ( the reco for this is 2 x 2ml, but have only ever given the first dose with perfect results ) and wormer, and to thinner ewes in the autumn

 

[gatepost]

Waste of time for cobalt ,unless you want to do them every 10 days.

 

[DrDunc]

For lambs?

Went off them years ago, but wondered about giving the lambs a drench this year at working and clik time. 8 weeks old.

Do they have any lasting effects for longer than a couple days?

Lambs need to be hellish deficient to get much of a benefit

The only long term effect is upon how much diminished your bank balance becomes paying for the stuff

Drenched a batch as an experiment a few years ago, for my soil is very cobalt and selenium deficient. Saw no difference in weight or preformance whatsoever. However, pre tupping ewe bolus' and good grass seed does make a huge difference!

 

[JockCroft]

Personally I put more value on the Vitamin content of drench. We drench about 4 to 5 weeks apart mostly at half recommended dose, first at 6 weeks or so. Its not necessarily at same time as worming but would do both and vary time to next mineral drench. Find best value from Vetset drench.

 

[M-J-G]

I fail to see how a drench given every month or two will help in any significant way.
I wouldn't expect to take a mineral tablet or drink a few times a year and notice much difference in my health.

Personally I think they are a gimmick and that offering access to minerals or giving a bolus would be money better spent.

 

[JockCroft]

I fail to see how a drench given every month or two will help in any significant way.
I wouldn't expect to take a mineral tablet or drink a few times a year and notice much difference in my health.

Personally I think they are a gimmick and that offering access to minerals or giving a bolus would be money better spent.

I should have added with add lib bag mineral available also.

It is the short term boost that helps the body to absorb what they require.

As I said I value the vitamin content more than the mineral side. Some include stimulants, not sure I see any benefit. Supplementary vitamins seem to help the absorbson/utilisation of relevant mineral. e.g. Vit E/Selenium.

 

[jendan]

I should have added with add lib bag mineral available also.

It is the short term boost that helps the body to absorb what they require.

As I said I value the vitamin content more than the mineral side. Some include stimulants, not sure I see any benefit. Supplementary vitamins seem to help the absorbson/utilisation of relevant mineral. e.g. Vit E/Selenium.

They work for me,and the more often they are done,the better they look. Will be enquiring about smartshot this year though.

 

[Bob the beef]

Used to smartshott everything here at 4-6 weeks then couldn’t get it during covid , so just drenched at weaning. Haven’t noticed any difference in performance. Smartshott used to be around 45-50p per ml, now nearer 90-100 at my vets. Too expensive imo

 

[Fellsfarmer90]

Went to a meeting to watch a fella who specialises in livestock postmortem‘s & as he was slicing & dicing away he was asked this question..his answer “given how the rumen works if you are going to buy it save yourself the effort of gathering the lambs in, go have a nice walk around the field they are located in & squirt the drench about as you go“

 

[M-J-G]

They work for me,and the more often they are done,the better they look. Will be enquiring about smartshot this year though.

Isn't there a way to get to the bottom whatever deficiencies you've got and provide a permanent 24/7 solution?

 

[ford4000]

I've tried them last 2 years ... Because after doing a forage test we're low in everything good and high in everything bad... Drenched them every 2 weeks after weaning, and I can't say I've seen any noticeable difference

 

[ford4000]

Used to smartshott everything here at 4-6 weeks then couldn’t get it during covid , so just drenched at weaning. Haven’t noticed any difference in performance. Smartshott used to be around 45-50p per ml, now nearer 90-100 at my vets. Too expensive imo

I did notice my lambs had better looking wool with smartshot, but can't say I was selling them any earlier. Other things affect growth more like grass quality and health

 

[jendan]

Isn't there a way to get to the bottom whatever deficiencies you've got and provide a permanent 24/7 solution?

Smartshot or something similar i think. Failing that move to a better farm . We have very thin light soil sometimes only about 6 inches on top of solid Whinstone rock.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

i mix some in with wormer, its not crazy expensive i get 5l from ap supplies and its very reasonable, i.e cost per head.

the one year i did not have any for the first wormer of the lambs (5/6 ish weeks old) i believe you could see a noticeable difference in lack of performance of the lambs.

who knows for what it costs im happy to chuck some in with wormer when they are in.

 

[M-J-G]

Smartshot or something similar i think. Failing that move to a better farm . We have very thin light soil sometimes only about 6 inches on top of solid Whinstone rock.

Better farms aren't always better when it comes to deficiencies despite what some might prefer to believe, a lot of minerals and elements are often locked into better soils.

I was thinking more along the lines of a full mineral analysis on soil and forage and get a mineral made up to suit, at least that way stock have full time access to them and they aren't reliant on getting the on one occasion every month or two.

 

[JockCroft]

Isn't there a way to get to the bottom whatever deficiencies you've got and provide a permanent 24/7 solution?

No.

To many variables, from weather and feed to breed and age/condition. Stress.

There are specialised mixes to suit general areas that to a degree do work.
There are also differing compounds that can be used in mineral mixes that work best where there are certain antagonist's. That is elements that lockup essential elements.

 

[M-J-G]

No.

To many variables, from weather and feed to breed and age/condition. Stress.

There are specialised mixes to suit general areas that to a degree do work.
There are also differing compounds that can be used in mineral mixes that work best where there are certain antagonist's. That is elements that lockup essential elements.

I still don't see how a few mils of solution every month or two is the answer to any significant deficiencies.

 

[Top Tip.]

I’ve always found that they definitely make a difference. In our lambs you can see the difference. Skin tighten up and their thrive improves. Ewes you see an improvement in lambing % and on the Cheviot ewes you can actually see the difference as they’re coats tighten especially the pre lambing dose.

 

[neilo]

Better farms aren't always better when it comes to deficiencies despite what some might prefer to believe, a lot of minerals and elements are often locked into better soils.

I was thinking more along the lines of a full mineral analysis on soil and forage and get a mineral made up to suit, at least that way stock have full time access to them and they aren't reliant on getting the on one occasion every month or two.

I would advocate taking a full analysis of blood, soil and forage would be the gold standard in finding out what you have to deal with, then treat (or not) accordingly.
Not cheap though, and not helpful if you rent bits & bobs everywhere on a temporary basis.