FAQs

Yes. The combination of tube lengths, nozzle sizes and placement of holes in tubes is essential to the correct functioning of the dispensers.

Yes, a Bloat Dispenser and Multi-Purpose Dispenser can both be used in the same trough at the same time.

However NEVER mix those elements together in the same dispenser.  If other elements are mixed into the same dispenser as bloat control material a thick gel will result, which will block the outlets in the dispenser. As long as the bloat material is in its own dispenser, it will work fine.

Click here to read about how the dispensers work.

The dispenser will operate more efficiently in an upright position.  This has to be considered when shallow troughs are used eg sheep troughs. A shallow trough will require the use of a supporting wire frame able to hang on the side of trough to support dispenser and container in an upright position. The outflow nozzle must be 50mm off the bottom of the trough.

Yes you should. PETA Bloat Dispensers are highly effective, but you still need to monitor your stock, especially when they are eating high risk foods – such as red clover, plantain, white clover or rye grass.  You should identify your ‘Indicator Animals’ that are more prone to bloat, and keep an eye on them, just like with any other bloat treatment.

You should either divide the dose between the number of troughs, with a PETA Dispenser in each trough, or cover up extra troughs so that the animals only have access to treated water.

Alternative water supplies, such as ponds or creeks, should be fenced off so that the animals only have access to treated water.

We recommend that you start your bloat treatment early in the season, before the major risk time.  Start with a half dose for the first couple of days to get the animals used to the taste.

When diluted in drinking water the bloat treatment is absorbed more easily into the cows’ system than it is with concentrated drench. This means the PETA Dispensers use a much lower but fully effective dose, enabling bloat treatment to be carried out for a longer period at the same cost.

A single dose applied to the trough daily, or twice daily, is not satisfactory as it will give a high dose to the animals drinking just after the dose is added, and a low dose later.  This means some of your stock will be overdosed and late cows under-dosed, putting them at a much higher risk of bloat.

Applying a dose on a per-litre basis, as inline water treatment systems do, is not recommended because of the huge variation in daily water intakes.  Depending on the temperature of the day, the dry-matter content of the feed, and other factors such as sunshine hours and rainfall, cows can vary from drinking 10 litres to as much as 70 litres per day.   If water is treated per litre, animals are severely under-dosed on low intake days and overdosed on high intake days.  That is why it is important that the trough is treated on a per-animal per-day basis.  Only the patented PETA Dispensers can meet these requirements.

Treating the trough directly, also saves your plumbing, as none of the treatment material is pumped through the plumbing on your farm

This dispenser relies on a closed hydraulic system. Click here to read about how the dispensers work.

Yes. The combination of tube lengths, nozzle sizes and placement of holes in tubes is essential to the correct functioning of the dispensers.

The PETA Zinc Dispenser is designed to use either heptahydrate or monohydrate (Mono Zinc).  If using zinc sulphate heptahydrate no dissolving is needed.  Just put the crystalline salt directly into the container.

If using Mono Zinc (zinc sulphate monohy­drate) always pre-dissolve it in water before putting in the Zinc Dispenser. One litre of water will dissolve up to 550 grams Mono Zinc (if immediately stirred after being added).

Click here to read about how the dispensers work.

The dispenser will operate more efficiently in an upright position.  This has to be considered when shallow troughs are used eg sheep troughs. A shallow trough will require the use of a supporting wire frame able to hang on the side of trough to support dispenser and container in an upright position. The outflow nozzle must be 50mm off the bottom of the trough.

You should either divide the dose between the number of troughs, with a PETA Dispenser in each trough, or cover up extra troughs so that the animals only have access to treated water.

Alternative water supplies, such as ponds or creeks, should be fenced off so that the animals only have access to treated water.

The zinc dispenser is most commonly used with cows and sheep.  However it works well for other animals that drink from drinking troughs too, such as goats, deer, alpaca, pigs and others.

Read about Preventing Facial Eczema

There is a very important difference between the Zinc and Multi-Purpose Dispensers: The flow rate. The dispensers are specifically designed to meter the contents at the correct rates, which fit the drinking pattern of the animals.

If Zinc was put into a Multi-Purpose Dispenser on its own it will dispense too quickly and overdose the livestock.

With Zinc especially, the toxic dose and the correct dose are very close together in levels.

That is why PETA developed the separate Zinc Dispenser, which has the correct flow rate for dispensing zinc at correct levels for the control of facial eczema.  For more information about the differences between PETA’s different types of dispensers click here.

Applying a dose on a per-litre basis, as inline water treatment systems do, is not recommended because of the huge variation in daily water intakes.  Depending on the temperature of the day, the dry-matter content of the feed, and other factors such as sunshine hours and rainfall, cows can vary from drinking 10 litres to as much as 70 litres per day.   If water is treated per litre, animals are severely under-dosed on low intake days and overdosed on high intake days.  That is why it is important that the trough is treated on a per-animal per-day basis.  Only the patented PETA Dispensers can meet these requirements.

Treating the trough directly, also saves your plumbing, as none of the treatment material is pumped through the plumbing on your farm

This dispenser relies on a closed hydraulic system. Click here to read about how the dispensers work.

Yes. The combination of tube lengths, nozzle sizes and placement of holes in tubes is essential to the correct functioning of the dispensers.

Yes, a Bloat Dispenser and Multi-Purpose Dispenser can both be used in the same trough at the same time.

However NEVER mix those elements together in the same dispenser.  If other elements are mixed into the same dispenser as bloat control material a thick gel will result, which will block the outlets in the dispenser. As long as the bloat material is in its own dispenser, it will work fine.

The PETA Multi-Purpose Dispenser is designed to use crystalline salts directly without the need to make up a solution. The required dose of solid or liquid material is placed in the container and taken to the trough where water is then added. The use of solid material means that a larger herd can be treated with a single dispenser. However, if multi mineral mixture containing MonoZinc is used, it is advisable to premix and let cool to prevent blockages.

Click here to read about how the dispensers work.

The dispenser will operate more efficiently in an upright position.  This has to be considered when shallow troughs are used eg sheep troughs. A shallow trough will require the use of a supporting wire frame able to hang on the side of trough to support dispenser and container in an upright position. The outflow nozzle must be 50mm off the bottom of the trough.

You can dispense magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, sodium (agricultural salt grade 12), sodium bicarbonate or bloat material (when bloat conditions are not critical), and trace elements.

Note –sodium bicarbonate or bloat material MUST NOT be combined with any other salts or magnesium in the container. If combined in the same dispenser a thick gel will result, blocking the outlets. This is stated clearly in the instructions.

You should either divide the dose between the number of troughs, with a PETA Dispenser in each trough, or cover up extra troughs so that the animals only have access to treated water.

Alternative water supplies, such as ponds or creeks, should be fenced off so that the animals only have access to treated water.

The dispenser is most commonly used with cows and sheep.  However it works well for other animals that drink from drinking troughs too, such as goats, deer, alpaca, pigs and othe

There is a very important difference between the Zinc and Multi-Purpose Dispensers: The flow rate. The dispensers are specifically designed to meter the contents at the correct rates, which fit the drinking pattern of the animals.

If Zinc was put into a Multi-Purpose Dispenser on its own it will dispense too quickly and overdose the livestock.

With Zinc especially, the toxic dose and the correct dose are very close together in levels.

That is why PETA developed the separate Zinc Dispenser, which has the correct flow rate for dispensing zinc at correct levels for the control of facial eczema.  For more information about the differences between PETA’s different types of dispensers click here.

Applying a dose on a per-litre basis, as inline water treatment systems do, is not recommended because of the huge variation in daily water intakes.  Depending on the temperature of the day, the dry-matter content of the feed, and other factors such as sunshine hours and rainfall, cows can vary from drinking 10 litres to as much as 70 litres per day.   If water is treated per litre, animals are severely under-dosed on low intake days and overdosed on high intake days.  That is why it is important that the trough is treated on a per-animal per-day basis.  Only the patented PETA Dispensers can meet these requirements.

Treating the trough directly, also saves your plumbing, as none of the treatment material is pumped through the plumbing on your farm

This dispenser relies on a closed hydraulic system. Click here to read about how the dispensers work.