Dairy cow bolus

[Slowcow]

How many folks bolus their dairy cows? What do you use?

We've been giving ours bagged minerals through the mixer, I've just done the sums and it won't cost any more to bolus them.
We've had cobalt deficiency in the sheep and I think some young stock which have improved a lot since I bolused them.



The agrimin bolus has cobalt in it the bagged minerals don't.
Cheers

 

[Grassman247]

Teat test and more tests

liver samples from cull cows, pooled blood samples for iodine, consult your vet it can be a minefield. I use tracesure on my cows and cosicure I on my heifers, doesn’t mean what suits me will suit you.

we have seen massive improvements in fertility since returning to boluses from bagged mineral

 

[happycows]

Animax CUI x2 at dry off. Tried others with dire results and will stick to tried and tested.
Just some free access access minerals rest of the year.

 

[epfarms]

Teat test and more tests

liver samples from cull cows, pooled blood samples for iodine, consult your vet it can be a minefield. I use tracesure on my cows and cosicure I on my heifers, doesn’t mean what suits me will suit you.

we have seen massive improvements in fertility since returning to boluses from bagged mineral

Can’t agree more! Most expensive treatment is the one that doesn’t work, the cost of finding out what’s needed is small compared to the ongoing costs of giving it, particularly if not needed. Blood samples, live liver samples and/or cull cow livers

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I've used animax CUI for the last few years but I've tried the downland ones this year which are made by agrimin. They are higher iodine than the animax ones and cheaper.

 

[sidjon]

I've used animax CUI for the last few years but I've tried the downland ones this year which are made by agrimin. They are higher iodine than the animax ones and cheaper.

We switched to agrimin from animax, wish I hadn't, iodine levels had dropped within six weeks which made calving no fun, switched to injectable iodine last year and no problems at calving.

 

[Devon lad]

I've used animax CUI for the last few years but I've tried the downland ones this year which are made by agrimin. They are higher iodine than the animax ones and cheaper.

Snap here, downland gun isn’t a favourite here though

 

[Slowcow]

Thanks everyone,
I wanted to use the super Dooper agrimin bolus, but a quite chat with of&g says I can't unless they go through the ingredients which will take a while, the only approved bolus for us are agrimin, not cosecure etc.

Mole Avon didn't have much if anything at the moment so I went round the corner to brimicombes and got cobalt pods to go with the iodine pods we already use!

Still not ruling out bolus but I wanted some cobalt going in before Christmas

 

[___\0/___]

We use Oligovet super grazing cow after blood tests and recommendation by our vet. Seem good but haven't tried anything else to compare.

 

[Hill Dairy]

After using agrimin ones we switched to Actotrace high iodine ones from ACT and saw a big improvement.