Tracesure Cu/I
Presentation
Each dose consists of 2 boluses:
A Rosin based cylindrical bolus, containing 3400mg iodine, 500mg selenium and 500mg cobalt.
A solid, rapidly dissolving bolus, containing 30g of copper oxide needles and 25mg of cobalt.
Uses
Tracesure Cu/I is a ruminal bolus for cattle, providing slow release supplementation of copper, iodine, selenium and cobalt. Where dietary intake of copper, iodine, selenium or cobalt is low, or where utilization of iodine is depressed by forage goitrogens , or where forage has a high molybdenum content, the health and productivity of the animal may be improved by supplementation of these elements.
Low copper intake gives reduced growth, depressed immunity and poor reproductive performance. If left unchecked, it can lead to anemia, lameness and thin, scouring, even dying animals. Copper deficiency is caused by either low copper content (primary deficiency) or high molybdenum, iron or sulphur content (secondary deficiency) in forage.
Goitrogens are substances commonly present in brassicas (cabbage family), soya and in linseed meals, beet pulp and sometimes in pastures, which reduce the efficient utilisation of iodine in maintaining thyroid function. The thyroid gland produces hormones which control metabolism. Iodine deficient stock may suffer from reduced fertility (anoestrus, sub-oestrus), poor weight gain and general ill thrift, late abortion/stillbirth/perenatal mortality, reduced milk yield and quality, metabolic disorders as well as an increased susceptibility to infectious disease, scours, BRD and parasitism.
Selenium deficient stock may suffer from white muscle disease, increased still births and depressed fertility.
Cobalt deficient stock may have depressed appetites and/or show signs of general ill-thrift.
Tracesure Cu/I boluses release supplementary copper, iodine, selenium and cobalt for up to 6 months. The iodine, selenium and cobalt are released from the bolus by leaching, providing dietary supplementation. Spent boluses become large and fragile. They are eventually shed, intact or fragmented, by being regurgitated or excreted. A proportion of the administered copper oxide lodges in the abomasum of the treated animal. This provides a sustained-release source of copper for absorption from the gut. This steady supplementation ensures adequate copper status but avoids the sharp rises in copper levels which can be associated with copper toxicity.
Dosage and Administration
Tracesure Cu/I boluses are administered orally. Place the 2 boluses at the back of the mouth, beyond the hump of the tongue, using a suitable dosing gun (e.g. the Animax Cattle dosing gun). To avoid injury, the dosing gun should be used carefully and without force. Always check that the animal swallows the boluses.
Dosage:
Animals weighing over 200kg = 1 dose. Both boluses from the blister must be given together.
Contra-indications, warnings, etc
Give no other selenium supplement within 6 months except under veterinary advice. Tracesure Cu/I should not be used in areas where the herbage is of high selenium content.
Animals should only be dosed if copper deficiency exists or is known to be a risk.
Not to be given to pre-ruminant animals. For animal use only. Keep out of the reach of children.
Pharmaceutical Precautions
Tracesure Cu/I boluses should be stored under cool conditions in the original packaging and should be handled carefully.
In more humid conditions, and if wax coating has been damaged, localized surface discolouration (grey-brown) may be seen. Such changes do not affect the performance of the bolus.
Legal category This is not a veterinary medicine.
Package quantities
Tracesure Cu/I boluses are available in packs of 10 doses
Further information
Pasture analysis for trace element content is useful and laboratories undertaking this work can provide advice on the need for supplementation. Pasture swards can vary greatly in their trace element content. Contaminant soil can substantially alter the trace element supply.
Primary copper deficiency arises from a direct shortage of copper in the diet whereas secondary copper deficiency results from the antagonistic effects of elements such as molybdenum, sulphur or iron upon absorption. Tracesure Cu/I is an effective long acting supplement in both cases. The severity of copper deficiency, whether of primary or secondary origin, varies greatly from farm to farm. On most copper deficient sites one dose of Tracesure Cu/I, given to grazing cattle at turnout, will maintain normocupraemia over the grazing season and leave animals with a substantial liver copper reserve at housing.
Marketing authorisation number This is not a veterinary medicine.
