I'm getting ready to give my goats their first dose of COWP... I'm seeing some signs of deficiency. My black goat is turning reddish, and some of them have rough coats, and there is a bit of fishtail.
Anyways... I purchased the UltraCruz COWP for kid goats (because they're all under 5 months). Each bolus is 2 grams... how much should I give them? I don't plan to use a bolus gun, as I read through all the old forums and came to the conclusion that it's fine to sprinkle it on their grain. However, I don't buy grain - I haven't had to because they're all at a really good weight and don't need it. I don't really want to spend money on grain just to use it once. Is there anything else I could use? We have bran for our horses... but I have no idea if it's okay for the goats. I think I might sprinkle the copper over a bowl of alfalfa leaves, since they love alfalfa, but just asking for other ideas in case that doesn't work.
Thanks for all the answers, even though I feel like I ask so many questions LOL
Replies
Yes, I'd go with 2 grams at that size.
Thanks everyone for the responses! I think I will try alfalfa. Mine all weigh between 30 and 35 pounds, so I guess the 2 gram capsule will be fine?
oh wow! I guess I will find another method of giving copper! Thank you for letting me know.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I know marshmallows are a popular option. I'm not a huge fan because marshmallows are usually made out of gelatin, which is usually made from ruminant bones, and because of mad cow disease, you are not supposed to feed ruminant animal parts to ruminants. The sheep and goat version of mad cow is scrapie, which is also caused by prions (rather than bacteria or viruses), but we haven't had any humans get mad goat disease, so hopefully it's not a problem, but no guarantees. Humans can actually have mad cow disease for decades before they get sick, so who knows what we'll learn about scrapie in another decade or two. I think they sell vegan marshmallows, which have no animal products in them, so that would be fine.
I read somewhere to cut a marshmallow in half, pour the particles on the sticky part, squeeze it back to together and put in their mouth. They don't waste any or spit it out. Thoughts? Is that bad for them? Mine like it.
I prepare and put them in an egg carton to take to the barn.
I've heard of people mixing it into all sorts of things -- whatever your goats will eat -- bananas, fig newton cookies, etc. I don't see why alfalfa crumbs wouldn't work.
The usual dose is 1 gram per 22 pounds, but since 2 grams is the smallest they sell, I know a lot of people give that to kids. I started bolusing before they made them for goats, so I've always used the cattle boluses and busted them open and given the 1 gram per 22 pounds.
Sprinkling on alfalfa leaves sounds like it might work--maybe try spritzing with a little water so the bits stick together a bit?
Here, we give them each a little treat in the mornings: sunflower seeds with a handful of kitchen produce scraps (like carrot and cucumber peels, etc) which are moist enough for the copper bits to stick to.