cobalt deficient lambs

[bovine]

Are you getting full production doing it like that, I am sure it's working but I thought the cobalt only lasted in the lambs for a couple of days?

it does

 

[GTB]

It seems obvious to me that the cobalt levels in the soil and grass need to be correct. When this happens the sheep are having the correct levels of cobalt (or whatever else is needed) on a daily basis. We are hoping we can afford to do all the land within three years and then soil test again. At approx £20/acre it isn't cheap but neither is bolusing or drenching continuously.

 

[Stockbeare]

I thought that if you sprayed cobalt on your pastures the rate was only 150g/ha, at a price of £10/kg. Plus spraying only a third, it should not come to £20/acre.

 

[Sheep92]

How did he find them any good ?

Interesting to see how @exmoor dave gets on with them?

Used a few times ,ok if border line def I think not if cobalt def is a big prob, so I've heard varying reports on them

Wev used them mayo boluses for the last few years and have been happy with them, but as said they can get stuck in the gun, if your using them, dont push the bullet in too far, thats my tip, anyone using the animax traffic light boluses? The cobalt one seems abit big for lambs

 

[rancher]

I've been using them since 2012, always give cobalt mixed with the first nemo dose and then the three animax boluses when the lambs are 10 weeks to have it working to get them over the weaning stress. I used the lamb finishing bolus this year

 

[Shep1]

I've been using them since 2012, always give cobalt mixed with the first nemo dose and then the three animax boluses when the lambs are 10 weeks to have it working to get them over the weaning stress. I used the lamb finishing bolus this year

I'm looking into the lamb finishing bolus and the Agrimin Smartrace for lambs. According to the blurbs, the Animax one will supply over twice as much Co, I, Se per day than the Agrimin, and will cost around €1 for the Animax vs 65cent for the Agrimin.
This got me thinking is the extra mineral supply make up for the extra cost. I'm leaning towards the more expensive one, as we're very deficient in cobalt and selenium.
Does anyone know the actual requirements for a lamb?

 

[GTB]

I thought that if you sprayed cobalt on your pastures the rate was only 150g/ha, at a price of £10/kg. Plus spraying only a third, it should not come to £20/acre.

A local trace element company came out and soil tested different parcels of land and made up a mix of whatever was needed. Everywhere needed both cobalt and selenium (a lot in some cases) and other blocks of land also required iodine and/or zinc.

 

[scholland]

A local trace element company came out and soil tested different parcels of land and made up a mix of whatever was needed. Everywhere needed both cobalt and selenium (a lot in some cases) and other blocks of land also required iodine and/or zinc.

How are your impressions of the trace elements spreading? My lambs are showing no signs of cobalt deficiency yet and they would usually. I will likely wimp out and the control in my experiment week be treated and I'll leave a small batch untreated.

 

[Stockbeare]

A local trace element company came out and soil tested different parcels of land and made up a mix of whatever was needed. Everywhere needed both cobalt and selenium (a lot in some cases) and other blocks of land also required iodine and/or zinc.

Ok understand now, I sprayed all my pastures with cobalt in May, I shall have the vet blood test next week to see what the cobalt levels are. Last year had a big problem, so I thought spraying was my best option.

 

[hilux]

Ok understand now, I sprayed all my pastures with cobalt in May, I shall have the vet blood test next week to see what the cobalt levels are. Last year had a big problem, so I thought spraying was my best option.

And don't forget to let us know please. Are your lambs looking better this year after spraying the pastures?

 

[Stockbeare]

And don't forget to let us know please. Are your lambs looking better this year after spraying the pastures?

Yes they look great at the moment, but they held condition until the end of July last year. I have gone OTT this year with trace element blocks, cobalt drench as well. It will be hard to known which is most effective

 

[rancher]

I'm looking into the lamb finishing bolus and the Agrimin Smartrace for lambs. According to the blurbs, the Animax one will supply over twice as much Co, I, Se per day than the Agrimin, and will cost around €1 for the Animax vs 65cent for the Agrimin.
This got me thinking is the extra mineral supply make up for the extra cost. I'm leaning towards the more expensive one, as we're very deficient in cobalt and selenium.
Does anyone know the actual requirements for a lamb?

1mg cobalt/day, but even deficient grass will supply some of that, can't remember how much animax supply per day but seems to be alright here, we've done our own trials here and even gave two boluses on a few, but the second bolus was no advantge so must be enough in one bolus for our farm.
Don't think animax supplies 1mg/day, it didn't in the old ones anyway

 

[Shep1]

1mg cobalt/day, but even deficient grass will supply some of that, can't remember how much animax supply per day but seems to be alright here,

Animax lamb finisher supplies 83mg cobalt, 0.4mg selenium and 1.78mg iodine per day, according too the blurb I got.
Agrimin Lamb supplies 0.8mg Co, .2mg Se and .9mg I per day. Whether thats enough or not I don't know

 

[Stockbeare]

Sprayed my grass with cobalt back in May., Just had my lambs blood tested for trace elements, picked five of the worst condition lambs, ears were slightly scabby and two in very good condition. The result of the worst lamb was 170 pm for cobalt and the best lamb was 500 pm for cobalt. I was a bit disappointed as I thought applying to the grass would of keep my levels up. But the lambs in general are much better then last year.

 

[GrannyAching]

What do you think you will do next? Spray again next year or back to drench/bolus?

 

[GTB]

Sprayed my grass with cobalt back in May., Just had my lambs blood tested for trace elements, picked five of the worst condition lambs, ears were slightly scabby and two in very good condition. The result of the worst lamb was 170 pm for cobalt and the best lamb was 500 pm for cobalt. I was a bit disappointed as I thought applying to the grass would of keep my levels up. But the lambs in general are much better then last year.

Did you treat the whole farm?

 

[Stockbeare]

Did you treat the whole farm?

Sprayed 3rd of the grass in each field of the whole farm, May be next year I will spray half. The coats on the lambs have still got a nice shine at the moment

 

[GTB]

Sprayed 3rd of the grass in each field of the whole farm, May be next year I will spray half. The coats on the lambs have still got a nice shine at the moment

We did a third of the grazing mixed in with the ferts. Our lambs are definitely better too but there are still some that aren't thriving. Going to inject them with vitamin B12 now to try. Should be much easier than bolusing.

 

[Stockbeare]

We did a third of the grazing mixed in with the ferts. Our lambs are definitely better too but there are still some that aren't thriving. Going to inject them with vitamin B12 now to try. Should be much easier than bolusing.

I would personally bolus the ones that are not thriving as well, I injected with B12 last year,, it doesn't last long enough from my experience.

 

[GTB]

I would personally bolus the ones that are not thriving as well, I injected with B12 last year,, it doesn't last long enough from my experience.

Neither does drenching. I hate bolusing, we seem to have a few losses every time due to bolusing injuries no matter how careful we are. Hill sheep struggle a lot more than docile down breeds.