Drenchers: Give Fluids Safely to Calves and Young Lambs

Drenchers: Fluid Straight Into the Mouth

A drencher puts fluid straight into the mouth, usually for calves and lambs that will not drink by themselves. The tube runs down into the throat, which is why calm, practised work is part of the job. This category carries tubes, bottles and bags from Antahi, Kerbl and HSW as well as bolus guns. Have someone show you the handling the first time.

Tubes and Bottles for Calf and Lamb

Around birth it is all about colostrum, the first milk of the earliest hours. For that there are the Antahi Trusti Colostrum drenching tube and the Antahi Colostrum feeder with a tube, which suits calves and lambs alike. The Antahi Flexi Tuber drenching tube for calves also comes as a starter set with a head strap that makes holding the animal easier. Larger volumes are handled by the Calf Drencher Profi calf bottle at 2 and 4 litres with a flexible tube. Alongside them are the Speedy Drencher feeding bottle with a dosing valve and the Drench Bag feeding bag at 2.5 litres.

Dosing Drenchers and Bolus Guns

For small quantities there is the HSW ECO-MATIC drencher with a metal nozzle, covering a range from 0.5 to 12.5 ml. A bolus, by contrast, is a solid dose that is placed in the mouth with a bolus gun. The range includes the gun for the Bufferlyt bolus and the Phosphogol bolus for dairy cows. Whether a preparation makes sense for your animal is something to discuss with your vet beforehand; the device only determines how cleanly the dose arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does a drencher do?
It delivers fluid through a tube directly into the mouth and on into the throat. It is intended for animals that are too weak or unwilling to drink by themselves.

Why are there dedicated colostrum tubes?
Colostrum is the first milk of the earliest hours after birth. Tubes and feeders are in the range for that task, and they let you work quickly.

How do I clean a tube and a bottle?
Rinse straight after use, clean thoroughly and let everything dry open. Porous or cracked tubes should be replaced, and so should leaking valves.