Peter Delbridge’s farm on the edge of Exmoor is lacking in key trace elements and is in a high rainfall area.

“We have always had a copper problem and if we didn’t do something for the sheep we would definitely get swayback trouble in the lambs,’’ says Mr Delbridge, who runs a closed flock of 350 Swaledale ewes, 50 Exmoor Horn ewes and a herd of suckler cows.

He had been drenching the sheep but had to repeat this process every 4-6 weeks. “We had an awful autumn last year and the lambs were looking very dull, sad with life really. We tried the Tracesure bolus on the ewe lambs and we noticed that after four weeks they really perked up and were looking really bonny.’

Historically he had used a selenium and cobalt bolus and drenched for iodine. “That was always a bit of a wrestling match and with the Animax bolus we only need to handle the stock once. I’m always quite keen on using things that need less labour. If we can do things more efficiently then it’s bound to be better.’’
Mr Delbridge also gives them to his cattle. “By giving them mid to late pregnancy I don’t have to worry about the cows for the rest of the year,’’ he says.