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chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Does any one have a source for mineral licks for goats in Ireland?
Had a source in Galway once but they are no longer there.
All I can find is sheep licks. Not the same.
I asked St. Tola in Inagh (commercial goat's cheese producers) but they have the same problem at present.

Thanks
chook

Jack · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 71 Location: North Otago

Gidday

There shoulkdn't be much if any difference between sheep and goat licks.

But do you realise if you have quite a few goats it's worth mixing your own lick. You will need to do a bit of research to find what minerals are lowest in your area and it's better to use chelated minerals if you can get them.
_________________
Cheers
Jack
QBE

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Hi Jack,
Thanks. Never occured to me to mix my own. Bit out of my depth there Sad

And I should have been more specific. Thing is, we've had a few problems this year with the kids. First I thought it was possible inbreeding but when I looked at the relationships again I realized it did not make sense. Then I sat with a vet friend and went through my goatbook and the only thing we could come up with was CAE. But there was really no explanation as to how it got here as we have a closed herd and never had that problem before. However, yesterday I happened upon an article on trace element deficiencies and bingo! The symptoms of copper deficiency match to a T. It is probably a secondary rather than a primary deficiency, as our land is quite good, they get some concentrates, quite a bit of browse and some seaweed meal daily (but probably not enough). However, last year the hay we fed in the late stages of pregnancy came from land with high Molybdenum which is an antagonist to copper absorption. This can cause serious copper deficiency.
So, long story short: I need a block with copper. As sheep are very sensitive to copper most sheeplicks are copper-free. I did a lot googling this afternoon and found a company that produces what I need, but they are in Germany. I'll talk to St. Tola. If they are interested we can maybe bulk buy together. But if anyone knows a source here please let me know.

Thanks.
chook

Jack · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 71 Location: North Otago

Gidday

Hey chook, I suggest you read the post I am putting on soon about natural organics.
_________________
Cheers
Jack
QBE

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Will do Jack. Thanks.

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Well, I took the safe route and found myself mineral licks specifically formulated for goats... in Switzerland out of all places.

http://www.kroni.ch/index.php?TPL...rticle_id=134&x1200_node_id=7
[img]http://www.kroni.ch/download.php?file_id=110&file_version=2[/img]

Composition:
Calcium 10 %, Phosphorous 5 %, Magnesium 2 %,
Sodium 19 %
Added per kg:
Manganese 3000 mg, Zinc 2500 mg,
Copper 500 mg,
Iodine 50 mg,
Cobalt 20 mg,
Selenium 5 mg

Approved for organic production
Provides essential minerals and trace elements, helps prevent deficiencies, such as copper deficiency in high molybdenum areas, cobalt, iodine or selenium deficiencies.

On the upside, this is perfect for me. It has the highest copper content of the mineral licks I could find (500mg/kg v. 200mg/kg in others) and since it is formulated for goats I don't have to be afraid of causing other imbalances such as by using licks formulated for other livestock categories.

On the downside, I had to buy a whole pallet. Shocked

They did cut me a deal on transport and gave a bulk discount, so they come to 28 Euro per 15kg lick. (the cost in Switzerland is 26 Euro plus shipping). A local goat cheese farm took a third of the delivery but I still have 30 surplus blocks.

Shelf-life is 3 yrs from November 07.

So if anyone needs a mineral lick or knows someone who might ...

My girls have already made significant inroads on the one installed in November Very Happy

chook

David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

Hiya Chook...my god, you really love those goats! Fair play to you!

We'll definitely buy a couple from you. We have been gathering loads of Ivy from the roadside on these dark winter days, hoping that it provides essential minerals for the ladies, but would love to have the backup of a goat lick. Some of these nights I'm like a lunatic climbing trees in the dark & rain so the goats get their treat...

If you'll be around Ennis or Shannon, I could meet you, otherwise we'll call out to you whenever suits

Happy New Year by the way!

D

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Hi David,
Happy New Year to you and yours.

Looks like you love your goats too Laughing

, climbing around trees in the dark ...

But seriously, it broke my heart to see the young ones suffer. One never got up and died from exposure, one got stuck in a drain, could not jump out because of her disability (swayback) and died, and one lovely, sweet and tame female we had to butcher. Certainly did not want to see a repeat of that.
According to a friend who's a vet and did some reading up on it, there is a small 'window' in early pregnancy, a developmental stage where lack of copper causes neurological damage which can manifest anytime from birth to a few months old (exactly what we saw happening: one immediate death, her twin showing symptoms very early on and one at a few months old).
As we gave away our billy very early, only one is pregnant (twins) as yet. Just as well. I hope I caught her early enough (the lick came too late, but once I had figured out what was wrong I fired seaweed meal and browse into them like there's no tomorrow).
Might be a bit, but I'll let you know when I'm going down your way.

Best,
chook

David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

God that sounds like a terrible experience...hopefully things will be better now that you have nailed the problem.

All the best,

D