AN independent and blind trial conducted by the Althnorthumbria Veterinary Group, has found that Cosecure soluble glass lamb boluses were the 'best in class' for profit and weight gain.

The trial involved nearly 500 Suffolk and Texel lambs out of Mules on a farm in Northumberland. Cobalt and selenium deficiencies had been previously diagnosed on the farm. All lambs were twins and were grazing grass/clover leys in rotation.

The vets tested two drenches, two boluses and a cobalt injection, to find out which product helped lambs fatten fastest and produced the best margin over cost.

The trial found that those dosed with Cosecure had nearly twice the levels of selenium and cobalt in the blood, than lambs treated with other products. This led to a gain of 146g/day over 120 days, compared to 11g/day for the control on just grass.

After subtracting the cost of the product, this gave a value of of £7.05 per lamb when calculated at £2 per kg - or £3525 extra income per 500 lambs.

The boluses contain 13.4% copper, 0.5% cobalt, 0.3% selenium and the unique soluble glass used in the product delivers a controlled and constant supply of trace elements into the rumen for up to six months in lambs, according to Cosecure.