Copper bolus

[Blooming chicks]

Do you use the medicated sweetlix? My goats never touch their minerals.

 

[bheila]

Quote:
I use the Sweetlix Meatmaker loose minerals.
I don't think that taking care of our goats always requires vet supervision or tests. It's like our children for instance you don't always need a thermometer to know they have a temperature. If you see a goat that has a red tinge to their coat then they're probably deficient in copper.
I recently took my doe to be bred at someone else's farm. I noticed that her "black" doe has some red tinged fur on her back. Immediately I asked what kind of minerals are you feeding your goats? She said that she hasn't had the chance to run to the feed store to get them anymore for about a month. So right there tells me they weren't getting what they needed. Since I ordered some copper and was going to be bolusing my goats I offered her some. We'll see if she takes me up on my offer

 

[FlightsofFancy]

While taking a break from doing some herd management today, I ran across this post. I had to laugh and then run to get my camera. I am actually Copper Bolusing today. So here is a picture of my Copper Bolus lab.
I would like to mention that Copper difficiency can be linked to Johnes disease and they are now doing research that is leading towards a remission of Johnes with Copper Bolusing. Oddly enough Crohnes disease in humans also links to Copper deffiency. Copper is also found to rid goats of certain intestional parasites. I am Bolusing a few does that I recently aquired that have all the markers for deffiency....coat color, quality, etc.

Our bodies are amazing indicators of our own problems. All we must do is listen!

 

[abluechipstock]

Quote:
no just sweetlix meatmaker loose mineral, my girls love it

 

[FlightsofFancy]

I had a few PMs about how we do this....so here is the way I do, you might do it different, but this works for me.

I use the Coppasure cattle bolus, too. The dosage is 1gm per 22lbs. Today I used Vanilla yogurt (upper right in photo) to mix with the copper. I bought a digital gram scale just for this (in the center). Then I put a dosage cup from children's medicine on the scale and total it to zero. I open the red capsule and add the desired amount of copper to the cup. Then in the paper bowl (upper left of photo) I add some yogurt or pudding then the copper, give it a good stir and voila....Copper Bolus a la Vanilla. Now this is the part that I have not perfected......putting the concoction in the drenching syringe (bottom left). I bought mine at Tractor Supply...the end screws off and it is easily filled, but I always spill a bit when I put the plunger back on. (????) I make enough for one goat at a time, dose that goat and come back and make the next goat's dose. That way you ensure the proper dose to each goat.
When dosing the metal syringe goes in between the goats two sets of teeth and then aimed for the back of their tongue. Dose slowly and let them swallow. They love it and lick their lips coming back for more

 

[helmstead]

Ah, grasshopper, you've learned well.

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
Ooooohhhhh, Kelly, that's gotta feel good, to get such a compliment from the Goat Goddess, herself!!!

 

[bheila]

Quote:
And here I thought that you had to put the copper in a capsule. I didn't know you could mix it and drench. Thanks I learned something new

 

[helmstead]

EVERYONE I've talked to about using capsules says the same thing..."GOOD LUCK". Apparently goats are as good at spitting out pills as I am at choking on them,

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The key is that you don't want them to CHEW on the rods. It changes the specific gravity of the things, which makes them more likely to pass through the system than to lodge in the stomach folds like they're supposed to.

 

[FlightsofFancy]

OMG! I did forget to give Kate the Goat Goddess credit. She taught me everything I know.