[dairymaid]

Just wondering if anyone knows of a decent mineral lick bucket with no GM content?  Tall order I know!

MVF make one but my ewes really didn't take to it last year so I am looking for alternatives.  I did end up using molasses only last year (which they loved) but I'm not sure if the cobalt and selenium in there are enough?  Any thoughts? 

I have dairy ewes and we use the milk to make cheese, so the GM-free part is really important.
I will continue my (never-ending) research but thought I'd ask here for the collective wisdom and experience!

:-) thanks in advance

[twizzel]

Could you not just bolus them?

[SallyintNorth]

I think most of us use a good chelated drench once or twice a year, or boluses, as well as licks; I don't think they will get all they need from licks alone. 

[dairymaid]

Thanks for both those replies.  I've never given boluses before but open to it! Can you recommend anything specific? My dairy ewes work hard once they are milking and I give them a good non-gm 20% mix of feed.  I was pleased/relieved to see they were in pretty good condition at shearing but I'm sure I could help them more. 
Drench/bolus recommendations would be gratefully received - I've just had a look and its a minefield!!

[SallyintNorth]

If you are giving them feed then they are getting some minerals in those.  (I should have thought of that with it being dairy sheep.  )   So they may be okay with just their cake and a lick, but you'd have to get the vet to do bloods to be sure. 

Fleece is a good indicator of cobalt and copper, though - if the fleece is tender, miscoloured, has a harsh feel you wouldn't expect, any of those things would indicate mineral deficiencies.  How were their fleeces this year?  (And did you save one for me?  )

A lot of us use Jonathan Guy Animal Health for our drenches; he is very good and will make up smallish quantities, hence his popularity with smallholders.  I would suggest you chat (or e-chat) with him about your situation and see what he recommends.

I've not used boluses in sheep myself, but several on here do or have.  Have a search on "bolus" in "Sheep" and come back and ask if you still have questions.  (And indeed, to tell us what you did and how it worked out for you - it's always good to know the outcomes!)

[Anke]

I concur with Sally - I use Jonathan Guy for both my sheep (Shetlands) and dairy goats for their mineral drenches. I use the sheep drench with copper for my goats about 3 to 4 times per year, and the Shetlands get the same (with copper) once per year, usually around lambing time. If they are lambing the next year again  I will give them the one withpout copper in the autumn, but have found they do ok just cruising through their years off. The sheep are only fed during the last 4 weeks before lambing and after (depending on grass coming through).