Bolus cuts stillbirths to ‘virtually zero’ in organic flock

Stillbirths among ewes carrying triplets have been virtually eliminated after the sheep were bolused to improve iodine levels.
Graham Hill, the shepherd for the Clinton Farm Estates in Devon, says problems started occurring in the 1300-head flock after the farm converted to organic and were limited to the choice of drenches and minerals.
Red clover formed a big part of the flock’s diet, both from pasture and silage and there was an issue with goitrogens. These are chemicals that inhibit the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland.

“In the second year of conversion we had a relatively high number of ewes, around 250, carrying triplets but we were getting some stillbirths. There were no classic signs of abortion, it was definitely the iodine levels,’’ says Mr Hill
Last year all the ewes carrying triplets were bolused with Tracesure Se/I, Tracesure Co and Copinox 4g. There were virtually no stillbirths that could not be accounted for.

“I feel sure that the Animax boluses are working 100%. As long as we grow red clover then we will continue with this policy,’’ says Mr Hill.
The lambs are also bolused because blood tests showed them to be low in selenium and cobalt. “The lambs weren’t growing and they were very dry skinned. Since getting the bolus, in simple terms they have a lot more bounce,’’ says Mr Hill.