Bo-se

[Sweet Goats]

I wanted to post what I have read about BO-SE. (Selenium and Vitamin E).
I replied to a thread the other day and someone was not happy with what I wrote. I am sorry but I was just posting what I have heard and read. So I would like to post what I have received from a vet from him manual.

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION: This is an injectable solution containing a combination of selenium and vitamin e.

INDICATIONS FOR USE: This produce is used to prevent retained placentas and treat muscle/tendon problems or white muscle due to selenium deficiencies.

PRECAUTIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS: Some reports indicats that when this product is given to pregnant animals during the third trimester of gestation, ABORTIONS may result. Use only produce recommended for each species. It can be toxic if given in excessive doses. Allergic reactions are also a possibility.

MEAT WITHHOLDING: 14 Days when used at label doses.

DRUG TYPE: Rx

I thought I would share why I said what I did. He also said it isn't recommended for goats BUT he gives it and so do most vets.

[Jillis]

I know it can be very confusing to get conflicting info. As a newbie I have been sifting, testing, reading and researching continuously and a lot of people and vets will tell you very different things. I know that literally every goat person I know gives BoSe shots to their pg does about 4 to 6 weeks prior to their giving birth---also CDT is recommended. This is in areas where selenium is deficient in the soil. Selenium toxicity can cause some of the same symptoms and problems as deficiency so maybe that is where the warning label comes in---to cover the butts of the drug manufacturers?

Another case where I get conflicting info is in weaning. Initially a very experienced and knowledgable person told me to wean by gradually adding more and more water to the milk until it was all water. Others say never to do this as it prevents the milk from curdling in their stomachs as it is supposed to and can cause problems that way. I weaned my first four babies that way and had no problems. But I went back to the person who told me this and told her that some people say it prevents the milk from curdling and she practically yelled "HorseHockey!" before I could finish talking. She told me she attended an educational thing given by a feed company and they said that this wasn't true, and that they drink the milk from the bottle and then drink the water from the bucket too, which dilutes it...so who to believe? This is something I now have to research myself (being online is so good for this!) and find out what is the actual truth of the matter. Meanwhile, I am not cutting the milk with water---I went to one bottle a day from two and then I am going to just stop.

I have found that a lot of vets don't know very much about goats. One vet told me my doe couldn't have gone into heat as she was only 4 months old...but she has been going into heat since she was 3 months old, no question about it. Not that I would breed at that age, just that she didn't know that goats often do have early heats...

[Misty]

Originally Posted by Jillis

I have found that a lot of vets don't know very much about goats. One vet told me my doe couldn't have gone into heat as she was only 4 months old...but she has been going into heat since she was 3 months old, no question about it. Not that I would breed at that age, just that she didn't know that goats often do have early heats...

Amen to that. Most every one gets their advise from "very experienced breeders",this workshop or that workshop. Not all of those are correct either. Just do what works for you and take the advise from the person you trust the most. I don't think the problem is using bo se. It is a very useful product IF you need it. I just don't like people advising to use it without first warning to find out what status you land is. For many that is their answer, but for where I live it could cause havoc.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Sorry don't remember the selenium thread. But I will say that no two breeders agree on anything 100%. And if you have a local breeder who is will to help you what on earth are you doing on the internet anyway? Thank your very lucky stars, because there are folks on the internet who don't have mentors or goat clubs!

Babies are born as single stomached animals. Everything goes into that stomach, milk, water etc....Why you don't add water to an infant ruminants milk is that it prevents the milk from forming a curd, like adding a bunch of water to milk and then trying to make cheese, all the rest (whey and water) that is not absorbed as nutritients comes out liquid and you have diarrhea. And older kid is ruminanting, you can tell when your kids are because they kock their heads like your older goats do to drink across a water bucket, the flap in the throat closes and the water does not go into the rumen. So with this information, it makes sense not to add water to the milk of your goats who are sucking down milk into their rumens, adding water to it then gives too much water in the rumen which can kill beneficial bacteria. Why it's not a good idea to make feed changes quickly or to put weaned kids back on milk when off it for a long time...it takes different bugs to eat the milk solids or to eat different kinds of grain. So horse hockey right back at you No but really, do what works for you. I just prefer to wean all in one day, the screaming is kept to a minimum, and you can't fool my Nubians with water in the lambar! And honestly I wean now when they all start refusing to come to the lambar since I always have extra milk unsold. Vicki