Copper bolus- how to make it?

[bknthesdle]

Could someone tell me how to make copper bolus? In extremely easy directions? Or have a link? I know I need copasure and gelatin capsules. But not what size or what do do when I have those items.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Dosing size chart.
http://saanendoah.com/cubolusdosechart.html

Boluses come from Jeffers Livestock Supply
http://www.jefferslivestock.com/copa.../LIV/cp/16535/

I got gel caps from amazon.com

[bknthesdle]

I saw the chart. Guess I am more of a hands on learning type of person cause the chart could be written in Greek for all that it means to me. :-(

Ps. Thanks for the help Alice!

[LoneStrChic23]

Originally Posted by bknthesdle

I saw the chart. Guess I am more of a hands on learning type of person cause the chart could be written in Greek for all that it means to me. :-(

Ps. Thanks for the help Alice!

You can get the coposure (cow sized copper boluses) from Jeffers, open those giant boluses, pour some out on to a postal scale that measures in grams (mine was les than $10 @ Wally-World) and once you've measured the proper dose out, put that inside an empty gel capsule (sold online or in health food stores)

Never actually done this, but I assume that's how it's done.....lol I'm ordering stuff to do my own boluses soon and that was the plan I had..

[RedSonja]

Originally Posted by LoneStrChic23

You can get the coposure (cow sized copper boluses) from Jeffers, open those giant boluses, pour some out on to a postal scale that measures in grams (mine was les than $10 @ Wally-World) and once you've measured the proper dose out, put that inside an empty gel capsule (sold online or in health food stores)

Never actually done this, but I assume that's how it's done.....lol I'm ordering stuff to do my own boluses soon and that was the plan I had..

That's my plan as well. I'm going to re-package some Copasure into 000 size capsules tomorrow, will let ya know how it goes.

-Sonja

[victory]

I don't wast my time with caps any more..
I just roll the copper into peanut butter
and down the hatch, although I was told
it may hurt the teeth..but I never really hear the
girls chewing on it, they are to busy pigging down
the butter...
What size goats are you bolusing?
I found that the large bolus is enough for three mini goats.
I over bolus my big girls, they get a full cow sized bolus
all to them self, seems we are terribly deficient here,
and they do great getting copper 4x a year.

[francismilker]

I just ordered the cow sized boluses from ValleyVet yesterday and plan on opening the caplets and pouring it over some grain for the dosing.

[Alice In TX/MO]

There are two size cow boluses. I get the 12.5 gm size, as half of one is just right for an adult full size breed goat.

Although I posted the chart, I don't use it. I just get big gel caps, divide the bolus contents in half, and each full size goat gets more or less 6.25 gm.

[motdaugrnds]

Alice is that 6.25 gm sufficient in tending to those barber worms?

[bknthesdle]

Originally Posted by RedSonja

That's my plan as well. I'm going to re-package some Copasure into 000 size capsules tomorrow, will let ya know how it goes.

-Sonja

Can't wait to hear how it goes!

[rranch]

Ifound this site helpful


http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/copper_wire.html

[Alice In TX/MO]

Copper bolusing is NOT a complete solution for barber pole worms. It make an environment that is more difficult for them to live in, but it is *not* a substitute for fecal testing and deworming as necessary.

From the website posted by rranch above:
"It should be noted that COWP has been found to be effective on reducing abomasal (H. contortus) only and not intestinal worms. COWP has been found to be effective against H. contortus in mature goats most of the time, though sometimes marginally effective. Other control strategies may be more effective in mature animals. As with all anthelmintic treatments, it is important to work with your veterinarian.

COWP should not be the only method used for controlling internal parasites. COWP boluses should be thought of as one component of a complete parasite management strategy."

[chewie]

I tried the re-capsuling method and it didn't go well. so, I do similar to victory, only I use prunes. My gals LOVE prunes. I give them one a day for a couple days, then the 'loaded' ones. usually takes 2 prunes to hold half the calf bolus, emptied onto a plate. they are too busy gulping them down before someone else gets their share to worry about chewing too many of them, and anythign I can do to lessen fighting with them the better. in fact, if anyone wants some caps, I'd send them for cost of shipping only!

[RedSonja]

Originally Posted by bknthesdle

Can't wait to hear how it goes!

It was ridiculously easy. The only tricky part was twisting open the big calf capsules w/o spraying copper all over the place Slow and steady is what worked best.

I just poured half of each calf dose (eye-balled not weighed) into two 000 size gel caps and closed it up.

Getting them down goat gullets was much more... interesting and exciting, than splitting them up to goat size doses

-Sonja

[dosthouhavemilk]

I order my supplies for bolusing from Valley Vet. I get the cow sized boluses by the 24 pack and the 1/8 ounce gelatin capsules http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...atin%20capsule
This means one bolus per goat, except for the big boys and girls who may need two boluses to get their full dose. The capsules hold up to 7 grams with ease.
I use my little gram scale, a cupcake muffin paper liner and I purchased some small funnels. I open the big boluses, pour onto my muffin paper sitting on my tared scale and add enough to get the grams I want. The paper muffin liner is already creased so I can just pour it into the gelatin capsule. Sometimes I use the funnel, but this last time when I made about 70 capsules, I ended up just carefully pouring it into the capsules without.
Those new boluses fit perfectly into the white calf balling guns, with no need for anything sticky.
http://www.southernstates.com/catalo...gun-white.aspx
I pick mine up at the local feed store.
Since it is just one bolus, it means less fighting with the goats. I bolused 50 does one afternoon. Close to half were receiving their boluses for a first time, so they took a little bit longer to convince them to swallow. There were maybe 3? I had to try more than once to get the bolus down. It did take a bit of time (maybe an hour and a half?), since I was catching, weight taping and tired. I had helpers, but neither had much experience catching goats and I was doing the majority of the physical work. We then wormed the lot of them as well that day.
When dad and I did the group of 19 does with their 24 kids (I only copper bolused the adults, but we wormed the whole group) it took half an hour for both bolusing and worming. Only 1 doe I had to do twice in that group, I believe. It helped the mature does don't really fight it much. They understand I always win.

[bknthesdle]

Ok. Went to Wally world and pick up a gram scale, collect my copasure and gel caps. I have the 000 (1.37 ml) caps. But my scale (bought in kitchen section) only measures in whole grams. Not sure where to get a postal scale. So is there a way to eyeball it?

Also, my 2 1/2-3 month old goat is losing hair on the rim of her ear. I am going to worm her but can I give her bolus yet or do I need to wait til she is six months?

[nehimama]

Great! I just learned that Valley Vet now carries the gel caps I use to divide the copper bolus(es). Size 13 is what I use on my minis. I used to have to order them through my vet. (If you have a good rapport with your vet, it's amazing how they can help you with hard-to-get items!)

[Heritagefarm]

Originally Posted by bknthesdle

I saw the chart. Guess I am more of a hands on learning type of person cause the chart could be written in Greek for all that it means to me. :-(

Ps. Thanks for the help Alice!

Actually, same here. It does not make sense. This page makes more sense:
http://www.saanendoah.com/copper1.html
Also, I would not give even a full grown goat the entire 12.5 g bolus. Even at needing 30 mg / day, which is not likely, a goat would use 900 mg / month which is 5400 mg (5.4 g) / six months. And that's with an exaggerated intake requirement.
Also make sure to use "OOO", we were using "OO" and were confused about why the copper was going so far.

RedSonja: I just knife them apart.

[Alice In TX/MO]

There is a LONG TIME goat lady here in Southern Missouri who has bolused with the one capsule per adult goat for several years. Just sayin'.

[nehimama]

I find that a full calf bolus works very, very well with full-sized goats. No problems here.