Research abstract / copper bolus contents added to feed

I wish while they were at it they had done the test long enough to see how the copper levels compared. To me the only real question in comparing capsules to rods in food, is if you get the slow release we know we have with capsules. However, I would already expect giving the rods in food to help with worms, I think most of us would.

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The gel caps are no different from food. They are digested.

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Alice
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I'm wondering if some of the research done a few years ago by a graduate student at my University is included in that paper. I am pretty sure that Dr. Burke was on her committee. She fed COWP that was included in a pelleted ration and looked at the number of parasites in the goats as compared to a control group.

Excellent article. Thanks for posting it Alice.

I've never re-sized the boluses into capsules. I weighed out 4 gms on a gm scale at work, put it in a 3cc syringe & marked it, and then eyeball the doses from there (double, half, depending on the goat). Tip the syringe into their mouth, towards the back, and we're done bolusing. I've always wondered how much effectiveness we've lost by doing it that way, not that they get to chew too many rods using this method, but I've seen the improvement. Works for me.

HF

Yes, but it would be interesting to see what levels of Cu were required in food to meet their nutritional needs.

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Maybe it's no different but maybe it is. The only person I know of who tested it found the does given the copper in food didn't get the longer effect the bolused ones did. Maybe they chewed it (increasing surface area and reducing "grab") and giving it in a manner that doesn't allow the goat to chew but still isn't bolused would work as good. But the rumen has a big mat of fiber floating on top and I can concieve it is possible that an actual bolus will fall down through that faster and more completely, than loose rods.

Is there a difference? Maybe not, maybe so. But since I finally have mastered bolusing, it's easy and I'll do it, I know it works well.

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I will probably always just stick with giving the bolus. As Southerngurl brought out, I like the idea of the gelatin capsule filled with the Copasure acting like a lead fishing weight, hopefully making it's way through the rumen contents to settle at the bottom of the rumen, so the mass of rods will have a higher chance of getting to where they need to be. I don't like the idea of the rods grinding against the enamel of the teeth possibly cracking a tooth, especially in an older goat. Possibly rods could be brought back up during cud chewing if the weight of single rods didn't make it to the very bottom.
But, if bolusing is too difficult for some to do, such as for very uncooperative goats, then definitely mixing them is food is better then not having them at all.

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HeritageFarm, there is an ongoing discussion of this on the email list that the abstract first came up on. In research, the issues are limited to one factor of study. Those of us out here in the trenches have to make it all fit together.

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Alice
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That's brilliant. It is kind of like using copper on the kitchen counter to kill all sorts of germs and parasites. It's such a good idea, and if it is that small of particles you probably wouldn't have to worry about a hardware disease type problem. Brilliant. Thanks for posting about this.

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Meka - the copper wire particles are what is in the Copasure boluses.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus