To maintain a healthy diet for goats, copper boluses are an essential supplement. Ensure that the goat is standing before giving a copper bolus. Using a bolus gun or your fingers, insert the bolus into the goat’s throat. Ensure that the bolus is swallowed completely and monitor your goat for any adverse reactions.
Copper Benefits for Goats
Copper is an essential mineral for goats and is necessary for healthy bones, teeth, and soft tissue. It helps boost the immune system and reduces the risk of infection. Copper also helps the body’s utilization of other minerals, such as iron, zinc, and manganese. Copper boluses help to ensure that goats get the proper amount of copper in their diet and can help keep them healthy.
Copper deficient goats may exhibit dull coats and hairless areas on their tails. Their mucus membranes may be paler than normal as a result of anemia. Before getting bred, a doe may undergo several heat cycles and may abort her fetus.
It is important to note that several of the above-mentioned symptoms can also be caused by other diseases, nutritional deficiencies, or even toxic effects. When treating your animals, it is always advisable to consult a licensed veterinarian.
What is needed to give a copper bolus?
- Bolus of copper (dosed for your animals)
- Guns for treating or balling
The correct dose of copper bolus should be selected based on the age and weight of your goats when purchasing copper bolus. It is recommended to give one 2-gram capsule to goats between the ages of 5 weeks and 3 months and weighing 25 to 50 pounds. Adult goats should be given a 4-gram capsule if they are older than 3 months and weigh more than 50 pounds.
Santa Cruz is my preferred brand since they are specifically formulated for goats and do not contain any unnecessary ingredients. All it consists of are copper oxide rods and gelatin capsules.
You should choose a treat that is sticky and can completely surround and conceal the copper bolus when giving a copper bolus. By far, the Fig Newtons are the best for me, having tried marshmallows, banana pieces, and banana pieces.
A goat I have will jump into the back of a pick-up truck in exchange for a Fig Newton. Then again, I have goats that refuse to accept any treat I offer. A balling gun is usually necessary for the picky ones.
How to Give the Copper Bolus as a Treat
Choose a sticky treat that will completely surround and conceal the copper bolus when given as a treat. The most popular choices include Fig Newtons, marshmallows, and banana pieces. Copper bolus should be administered according to the goat’s age and weight. A balling gun may be necessary if the goat is picky. It is recommended that you use a copper bolus that is specifically formulated for goats, such as Santa Cruz, which contains no unnecessary ingredients.
An explanation of how to give a copper bolus manually
- Place the copper bolus capsule carefully inside the goat’s cheek
- Put your pointer finger down the goat’s throat as quickly as possible
- It is important to encourage them to swallow by keeping their heads up, closing their mouths, and rubbing their throats
Providing the bolus to those who do not consume treats is more challenging. The reason I do not recommend this option is that they do not enjoy it, and it is possible to be bitten by them. It is important to note that goats do not have opposing teeth in their anterior teeth, but they do have opposing teeth in their posterior teeth, and these molars are sharp.
Balling Gun Instructions for Giving a Copper Bolus
- In order to prevent the copper bolus capsule from falling out of the balling gun, use peanut butter to adhere it to the depression
- Put the balling gun into the goat’s mouth and proceed as far back as you can. It is important to be gentle, not forceful. If you trigger the goat’s gag reflex, it may bite down and cough.
- By pressing the plunger of the balling gun, place the capsule in the back of the throat
- Remove the balling gun from the mouth
- Ensure that the goat keeps its head up, its mouth shut, and rubs its throat to encourage swallowing
A balling gun should be used with the animal restrained in a stanchion or with another set of hands. Depending on your preference, you can choose between plastic and metal.
What is the best way to administer copper bolus to goats without a gun?
By placing the capsule in the back of the goat’s throat and pressing it in place with one’s fingers, copper boluses can be administered without a balling gun. Keeping the goat from biting and coughing requires gentle handling, not force. For the goat to swallow the capsule, it is important to keep its head up and mouth shut after the capsule has been administered.
What is the best way to give copper bolus pills to a goat?
When giving a copper bolus pill to a goat, the pill should be placed carefully inside the goat’s cheek and pressed in place with one’s fingers. By keeping their head up, closing their mouths, and rubbing their throats, you should encourage the goat to swallow as quickly as possible. Despite the fact that goats do not have opposing teeth in their anterior teeth, they do have opposing teeth in their posterior teeth, and these molars are extremely sharp.
Is there a safe amount of copper for goats?
The safe amount of copper to administer to goats is determined by their age, size, and the type of copper supplement used. In general, an adult goat should not receive more than 2-3 mg/kg of copper per day, and the total amount should not exceed 10-15 mg/kg over time. To determine the appropriate amount of copper for your goat, you should consult with a veterinarian.
What is the daily requirement of copper for a goat?
It is recommended that an adult goat should not receive more than 2-3 mg of copper per kg per day.
Copper Boluses: Additional Information
Copper is gradually released from the goat’s digestive tract as a result of the ingested rods in the capsules. As stated by the manufacturer of the capsules that I buy, the bolus lasts eight to twelve months, however, I choose to bolus every six months.
Following administration of a copper bolus, no withdrawal period is required for milk or meat. Neither lactating does nor pregnant does have shown adverse effects when given copper boluses.
Even something as safe as a copper bolus should be recorded carefully. In order to reduce the likelihood of an accidental overdose, you should keep a record of the animals you treated and when.
In addition to not being a veterinarian, I am unable to provide medical advice for your animals. My personal experiences are being shared solely for informational purposes.
