Bose and Newborn Goat Kids

By Deb Haines

BoSe is a selenium and vitamin E booster often given to goats residing in known selenium-deficient areas.
Since selenium deficiency exists at different levels throughout the United states. Google “selenium deficiency” to see the general locations in the USA.

Bose is being recommended all over the internet for the use on newborn kids from non vets with no facts to back up why that newborn is in need of Bose.
PLEASE NOTE: Nothing other than colostrum is needed in a newborn kid or lamb!
There is NO pharmacy with a plethora of drugs in nature, and the kid’s GI tract is not designed for all of the things that we have devised….give them only what they need…give them colostrum!!! Give them time !

Veterinarians perspective based on facts

* Ken Brown Dvm….. BoSe is not the answer, regardless of what anyone says. it is a mineral deficiency and corrected slowly over time, and even then a daily small intake is required, an injection may provide a short-term higher concentration, but is gone in a week. daily intake at micro amounts is the answer.

BoSe cannot fix a problem in a short period of time – not how it works*nutrition* is the answer (which includes selenium in the milk naturally) .

* Jessi L. Ross-Mead DVM …. I agree with Dr Brown about the BO-SE (it seems to be a quick and easy answer that gets used on the assumption that there is a Selenium deficiency).
I see a few of these little Boer kids born premature or dysmature each season. Patience and a few days of supportive care (helping them nurse, gently moving their limbs through the normal range of motion, and supporting them in a standing position for a few minutes a couple times a day) seems to be all they usually need to get going. Once they’re about 7-10 days old they are on par with the other kids their age.
Selenium deficiency is ONE cause of weak kids…there are dozens, if not hundreds, of others (most of which are far more likely) in areas with normal Selenium in the soil.

* M nanette Chastine DVM …..Bose should be used only if, the farm where the goats live is in a selenium
deficient area, then BOSE or another source of Vitamin E and Selenium can be given to the kids in the first couple of days of life (preferably after the first 24 hours if it is an oral product so that maximum colostrum absorption can occur).

* * Questions and Answers* *

1) What happens if you give a goat kid to much Bose ?
Ken Brown Dvm…… it is toxic. selenium is toxic and excess can build up in the liver so can get a chronic or an acute toxicity – both end up in death this is why BoSe and other selenium products are Rx only for selenium, it is a trace mineral and only a trace is needed – daily diet intake is best way and is why a lot of feeds have a trace amount added

2) What if we do have a selenium deficiency, What is treatment?
Ken Brown Dvm …. 1/10th of 1cc per 10 lbs for a kid .. a small, wee amount.. It is easy to overdose selenium..

3) Bose is not a annual vaccine?
Ken Brown DVM ….No, BoSe is not a vaccination. It is a supplement. The baby gets selenium from mom, so does not need if mom is OK – and selenium is a trace mineral usually found in the feed. if are using a commercial feed with selenium, then likely mom is OK, so baby is OK

If in a area and it is a selenium deficiency. The dose is 1ccper 100 lbs is pretty standard .. (kid) 0.1 (1/10th) cc per 10 lbs

Anne Jones DVM …. I too live in a deficient area but do not give it routinely to kids Does have adequate selenium in diet and mineral If you are not seeing issues with weak kids/slow to nurse ..then you probably don’t need to do it

3) My newborns legs are bent and can’t walk right, is that a selenium deficiency. I am told it needs Bose?

Ken Brown DVM …..Take your wrist and bend it over sharply and hold it there for 5 minutes. Seriously,. Give it a try.
Now straighten it and try to pick something up with your hand or even just relax and look at the position your wrist wishes to behave to work a bit to get it straight, yes?
Do you work it and bend back and forth to get your wrist feeling better and strong?
Now imagine little legs and feet get pretty big in the uterus as close to birth and have to bend to make room then suddenly pop out into the world. It will take a few days to sort it all out and get stronger, but if they can get to a teat and nurse (your job is to help), they will be fine. Some take a day to get right, others can take a week all depends on how scrunched up they got. Using them makes them strong, so let them use them. So long as are slowly getting straight and improving,
you are fine.
Do not splint them, it makes them weak.