Mineral strangeness

Alice In TX/MO · #21 12/14/12, 06:50 AM

I had leftover minerals that I kept putting out, intending not to buy a new bag.

I have no idea about the answer to your question. This is an experiment.

andabigmac · #22 12/14/12, 09:13 AM

Mine are chowing down on the Onyx also. They're eating baking soda and Redmond salt like crazy though too. I think the babies play in it though. Brats. I got lazy with the Replamin when I had my tooth problem so I've only been giving it every other week. I need to go back to once a week. My goats look awesome though.

Hannah90 · #23 12/14/12, 09:23 AM

Ok, as I was reading this thread, I had no idea what replamin was. So, I did a quick search, and found a few different kinds. gel, plus, pull through, etc. I understand it's purpose, but I was wondering which kind you were using and how much you were giving each goat? Sorry to steal the thread.

Alice In TX/MO · #24 12/14/12, 09:54 AM

I'm using Replamin Plus. When I am vigilant, I give 5 cc once per week to the does. I'm not quite as generous with the bucks.

http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/detai...s/498-200.html

Backfourty,MI. · #25 12/14/12, 10:13 AM

I've been giving all my goats 5cc, bucks & wethers too. I have noticed mine eating a little of the loose mineral I have out for them. Like Alice said not much but I'm trying to use the rest of my bag up then I'm not going to buy anymore. Just the Replamin Plus for 6 months or so & see how everyone does. I did miss 1 week though just because I was busy & kept forgetting.

I do think it's the winter, lack of fresh browse & they are needing more salt intake.
I wonder if putting a salt block in for them would be better in the winter?

Minelson · #26 12/14/12, 02:38 PM

Mine already have access to salt via the horses salt block. I see them licking it sometimes.

wintrrwolf · #27 12/14/12, 10:00 PM

OK I am up to 3 goats now that will willingly take the Replamin (Heidi, Pebbles, and Shaq) and I did notice when I put some fresh loose goat minerals out for the Doe's both Heidi and Pebbles were all over it ...maybe the Replamin plus kicks start the need for more...?
Heidi is looking tons better already from the Replamin and access to hay 24/7, she LOVES baking soda.
Now the boys have access to the horse mineral block (red block) and the 2 boys that I am not forcing Replamin on (cause they still stink to high heaven) do go to the block more than Shaq does.

Frosted Mini's · #28 12/15/12, 01:38 AM

WHY are you guys using this stuff? Once a week, sounds like making more work for yourselves? What is the benefit?

My goats get copper boluses every six months and Right Now Onyx with a little kelp mix in and I was so impressed with how nice their coats have been! I would hate to imagine trying to remember to feed this stuff, and the expense (no clue what it costs though)!

ShadowfaxFarm · #29 12/15/12, 08:41 AM

a good way to know if it's the minerals or just needing salt is to remove the loose minerals and replace it with free-choice rock salt.

Minelson · #30 12/15/12, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

WHY are you guys using this stuff? Once a week, sounds like making more work for yourselves? What is the benefit?

My goats get copper boluses every six months and Right Now Onyx with a little kelp mix in and I was so impressed with how nice their coats have been! I would hate to imagine trying to remember to feed this stuff, and the expense (no clue what it costs though)!

The thought behind it is that this way we don't have to buy minerals or copper bolus and can make sure they are getting minerals by making them eat it. I could see where it would be a hassle with a very large herd to do every week. It's easy peasy for me. My 2 girls will suck it right out of the syringe and the boys don't fight it but I do have to force it.
http://www.probioticsmart.com/farm/r...-plus-gel.html

Alice In TX/MO · #31 12/15/12, 09:12 AM

The benefit is the HUGE improvement in their condition. These are dairy goats, so we have our hands on them and feed them yummy treats all the time anyway. Dosing with Replamin is not a hassle.

CaliannG · #32 12/16/12, 05:48 PM

I was given a partial bag of loose minerals and put it out. I use the Replamin once a week for most of the goats, and more often for my not-so-easy-keeper.

The ones who suck the Replamin down like it is a treat are DEVOURING both the loose minerals and loose salt. The one girl I have who thinks it is poison (which is a problem, as she needs it the most) has not been really touching either.

Replamin does NOT have added salt. Salt is still needed in their diet. I have also noticed that this gang-banging for the loose minerals and the salt only started this month....it was not the case in November.

I have been chalking it up to a change in browse and pasture. The Western Ragweed, and other such deep-rooted plants, are gone right now, and the new rye is coming up. The catsclaw has lost its leaves, and so have the trees they are accustomed to munching on, so all they really have is the shallow-rooted winter stuff that is not high in minerals.

As for dosing, except for the one girl who thinks I am poisoning her, I just squirt their dollop of Replamin on top of their feed when they are on the milkstand. Every single one of them (EXCEPT Miss Prissy, but she is also wary of other treats as well) will eat the Replamin FIRST, then start in on the feed. My dry girls, and the bucks and wether, will eat it right out of the tube.

I am considering buying a bag of loose minerals for the winter, since they seem to want them more. I've been going back over my notes and have found that this is one of the two times of year that I have noticed deficiency in the past, the other time being early summer (which, down here, is when the wildflowers and most of the native legumes have flowered and died off, leaving mostly bermuda grass in the pastures.)

~ponders~ I may go to twice weekly doses on more of my herd and see what happens.

CaliannG · #33 12/16/12, 05:57 PM

Oh, for Frosted Mini's...the discovery of the Replamin Plus Gel was an accident, but except for a couple of people that have tried it and experienced no change in their herd, the rest of us have seen drastic improvements in over-all condition and production in our dairy goats. So far, no one has experienced negative effects. HOWEVER, this is a new thing we are doing, and most f us have only been doing it since late summer (I started in early summer, again, an accidental discovery), so this is our first winter with it.

The Replamin Plus Gel is nothing more than a highly absorbable and bio-available mineral and vitamin supplement that doesn't have the stuff in it that generally inhibits uptake of crucial minerals such as selenium and copper. Think of it like a One-a-Day vitamin for goats, only it is One-a-Week instead.

It also takes out the guesswork on who is eating how much of the minerals, as it is dosed and you KNOW what goat is getting their minerals, and how much.

Frosted Mini's · #34 12/16/12, 09:06 PM

Interesting. I am planning to raise some wethers up for meat next year...may have to do some experimenting and liver testing.

CaliannG · #35 12/16/12, 09:15 PM

~chuckles~ Go read the ingredients and nutrient value information on Replamin Plus Gel, and then you tell me.

andabigmac · #36 12/16/12, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

Interesting. I am planning to raise some wethers up for meat next year...may have to do some experimenting and liver testing.

If you send liver samples to UVDL in Logan, UT the man who does the testing isn't very polite about giving the ranges for the minerals. He will only say if your goats are in the normal range. I had a fun (not) conversation with him this spring. Don't waste your money if you expect comparisons using only your livers unless you make arrangements ahead of time. That's just my experience though.

Frosted Mini's · #37 12/16/12, 11:21 PM

I sent my last one to MSU vet school, and got base ranges and actual values. Sorry you had that experience; some people are just jerks!

Frosted Mini's · #38 12/16/12, 11:31 PM

Actually, I will probably wait until you guys are done experimenting with it to give it a go.

How long have you all been using this stuff?

Frosted Mini's · #39 12/16/12, 11:34 PM

I do have a real good use for it though, so I may use it sooner than that. Just thought of this. My sheep spend some time with the goats right around lambing time, so I have to take the goat minerals away. May be a great time to use it, since I have to supplement the goats separately anyway.

Alice In TX/MO · #40 12/17/12, 06:07 AM

Done experimenting? Um... it's not a controlled study.

No end date.

Pick your roughest coated, copper deficient goat. Dose her weekly for at least a month. I saw results in three weeks.

You can double dose the first week.