Rumbul Magnesium Bullets
Presentation
Rumbul Magnesium Bullets are moulded metal cylinders of a magnesium/aluminium/copper alloy (86, 12 and 2% respectively) weighted with iron shot. Bullets intended for adult cattle (2.5 cms dia. x 7.6 cms length) each contain 40 g magnesium. Smaller bullets (1.9 cms dia. x 4.6 cms length) each contain 15 g magnesium and are intended for adult sheep or calves. After swallowing they lie in the reticulum or at the base of the rumen and break down, releasing magnesium continuously by electrolytic action (which prevents the formation of insoluble deposits), throughout their active life. The iron shot is eliminated in the faeces of the animal as small discrete particles.
Uses
Rumbul Magnesium Bullets are intended to be used as an aid for the prevention of hypomagnesaemic tetany in dairy cows (of at least 300 kg bodyweight) and sheep (of at least 30 kg bodyweight) during the high risk period associated with the grazing of rapidly growing spring grass. They may also be used for suckling calves where the diet is predominantly milk.
Dosage and administration
Dosage
Dairy cattle
Two Rumbul Cattle Bullets should be given to each animal two/three days before the expected period of risk, e.g. before transfer from indoors to grass in the spring. If necessary, dosage should be repeated after four weeks.
Only to be given to cattle of at least 300 kg bodyweight.
Sheep
One Rumbul Sheep/Calf Bullet should be given to each animal two days before the expected period of risk, e.g. after lambing or transfer to new grazing. If necessary, dosage should be repeated after three weeks.
Only to be given to sheep of at least 30 kg bodyweight.
Calves
Two Rumbul Sheep /Calves Bullets should be given to each animal. One treatment should prevent a serious reduction in blood magnesium concentration for at least three weeks; thereafter, dosage should be repeated if the calf is still receiving a predominantly milk diet.
Only to be given to calves of at least 50 kg bodyweight.
Administration
Administer orally by using the specially designed bulleting gun.
Load the gun by inserting the bullet into the open end. Open the animal's mouth and the gun should then be introduced carefully and gently, until the bullet is in the region of the back of the tongue. Severe pressure on the tongue should be avoided.
Depression of the plunger (fig 3) will deliver the bullet on to the rear part of the tongue, thereby initiating a swallowing action. The gun should then be carefully withdrawn from the mouth (fig 4).
For cattle and calves only - a second bullet should then be administered following the same procedure.
Observe each animal for a short time after dosing to ensure the bullet(s) has (have) been swallowed.
Contra-indications, warnings, etc
Rumbul Magnesium Bullets are particularly recommended for adult dairy cattle and sheep when grazing rapidly growing grass in the spring when there is a well defined period of high risk. It is difficult to establish experimentally their effect at other times of year when clinical tetany may occur unexpectedly.
Consumption of more than small amounts of other feeds (e.g. hay, silage, concentrates) may, by altering the pattern of rumen fermentation, change the rate of release of magnesium from the bullets. Rumbul Magnesium Bullets may occasionally be regurgitated. This may happen very shortly after being administered if they have not been completely swallowed. The bullet may more readily reach the reticulum or base of the rumen if it is not given immediately after hay or silage has been given. Animals should be observed carefully for a few minutes after administration. Towards the end of their useful life (when the bullets become both shorter and of greatly reduced diameter) there is a small chance that regurgitation may occur. If it is noticed that an individual animal has regurgitated a bullet, treatment should be repeated.
Rumbul Magnesium Bullets do not necessarily restore blood magnesium concentration to accepted normal levels. In the vast majority of situations good control of hypomagnesaemic tetany is obtained. However, because of the varying complexity of factors involved in the condition as it occurs in different situations there may be a very small proportion of animals which do not respond to the treatment. Rumbul Magnesium Bullets cannot be expected to correct chronic hypomagnesaemia which may follow a long period of under-nutrition.
In areas where there is no known copper deficiency, no additional supplement of copper should be given to animals which have been administered Rumbul Bullets, for the active life of the bullets.
For animal treatment only. Keep out of the reach of children.
Meat and milk withdrawal period
Meat - Zero days
Milk - Zero hours
Pharmaceutical precautions
Store in a dry place.
Store in the original package.
Keep the package tightly sealed.
Rumbul Bullets have a shelf life of 10 years - for expiry date see end of each printed carton.
Packaging Quantities
Rumbul Cattle Bullets: Package 10 Bullets (5 doses). Rumbul Sheep Bullets: Package 20 Bullets (20 sheep doses) or (10 calf doses).
Further information
Experience has shown that there are no toxic or side-effects associated with repeated dosage of individual animals over prolonged periods.
Marketing authorisation numbers
Rumbul Rumen Bullet - Cattle
| Vm 04261/4003
|
Rumbul Rumen Bullet - Sheep
| Vm 04261/4004
|