Free choice minerals and Bo-se

[christelle]

Ok- this is something I've been confused about for awhile. If goats have access to free choice minerals that has Selenium in it, why do we have to also give Bose shots? I live in Maine, which is selenium deficient. I gave my girls free choice minerals, and after a few months some we're losing some patches of hair. I did a mineral panel, everything was normal except selenium, which was high. It was right before breeding, and I was about to give the herd Bose, but didn't since they we're high. Now we're approaching kidding. I've been measuring manna pro mineral so they don't get too much. Should I take another mineral panel closer to kidding before giving Bose? Do I just give them Bose anyway so it's in the kids' system? Do I just give it to the kids? Any insight would be much appreciated!

[motdaugrnds]

It might help if you told us what method you used to measure your doe's selenium level and what you consider normal? It would, also, help if you told us what minerals you are using.

I understand you to say your "area" is deficient in selenium; however, that may or may not mean you need to inject Bo-Se. Check out "Replamin Plus" as an option for your selenium...and copper levels.

[mygoat]

I think in a lot of things, us goat people overdo it. :P Mainly because it's cheaper than doing a mineral panel. Personally once I started giving it, I had reduced retained placentas and other weird birthing issues... Granted, I also stopped breeding mini goats (mostly pygmy origin) which had kidding problems A LOT anyways, so maybe my results are skewed. :P We only give it pre-breeding and pre-kidding, and I believe it is only effective for a handful of weeks. For my pet goats, they never get BoSe or copper...

If your Se levels are fine, I wouldn't worry about giving it. Last I heard there was some sheep research that indicated that giving Se to dams was more effective/important than dosing lambs at birth.

Do you measure it and put it in feed?

[christelle]

To measure the Se level, I had my vet do a mineral panel. Normal levels were between 65 and 120 ppm, and my girl was at 130 ppm.

Yes, I do measure the Manna Pro minerals and put it in their food. Since the mineral panel told me their levels were fine except for Se, I don't understand why they eat so much of it if I leave it out free choice! It's not like they don't have plenty of other things to eat, they're pretty spoiled!

[mygoat]

NO nutritional study has ever proven that animals eat only what they 'need'. They eat what tastes good. What tastes good? Salt and molasses - which is usually in minerals at high rates. Try a lower salt, lower molasses mineral mix.

[christelle]

Ok thanks 😃