Copper boluses

[Cheryl aka JM]

I purchased copper boluses for my goats based on advice I received on the goat forum to improve the taste of a does milk. The product I bought is made for calves......which begs the question........

Should I be bolusing the calves as well?

[gone-a-milkin]

Cheryl, have you got some loose minerals out for them?

That should be enough copper, IMO.

[ozark_jewels]

In my experience goats higher copper needs than cattle.
I must bolus my goats *and* keep high copper mineral out free-choice, for them to perform at their maximum.
My cattle have done just fine on loose mineral kept out free-choice.
So unless you are seeing signs of copper deficiency in your cattle, I would just go with a good loose mineral. My experience in southern missouri, anyway.

[Cheryl aka JM]

They don't have a loose mineral but they do have mineral blocks. I've not seen anything I would call copper deficient~ in fact only a couple of my goats are showing symptoms of deficiency and I've still not decided whether to bolus the ones that look fine or not. Bolusing was a REAL CHALLENGE on the two I just did! Back to the subject though~ the cows don't have a loose mineral but they do have a block. The goats have loose goat minerals in their pasture but I put them back to the cows pasture at night so the dogs can guard everybody after dark. I've been thinking about looking for loose cattle minerals and putting them out since I've heard that they are better for the cattle.............

If I put out loose mineral for the cattle.....and copper bolus all the goats would that be good? Or do I have to try to keep two different kinds of loose mineral and make sure everybody is only eating their own type of mineral?

[ozark_jewels]

I use a good beef cattle loose mineral for everything on the farm. Horses, goats, dairy cows and calves. They all get the same stuff. Most "goat" minerals are not their price.
Oh, and if you are seeing copper deficiencies in a couple goats, you would be better to bolus the whole herd twice a year.

[francismilker]

Word of warning on the copper boluses. If you have sheep, they're not as tolerant to high copper levels as goats and cattle are. It'll make em' very sickly!

[Cheryl aka JM]

no sheep~ but thanks for the warning!