Dominic Naylor Chooses Mayo Iodine Max Cattle Boluses for the 2,500 Cow Suckler Herd at the Lilburn Estate

2,500 Cow Suckler Herd Choose Mayo Iodine Max Cattle Boluses

Lilburn Estate is home to 2,500 suckler cows. 1,500 cows calve in the spring with the remaining 1,000 cows calving in the Autumn.

Lilburn Estate in Wooler, is in the heart of Northumberland.  The area of uplands is severely trace element deficient and lacks the essential trace elements; Selenium, Cobalt, Copper and Iodine.

Dominic Naylor, estate manager has incorporated the All Guard High Iodine cattle boluses into the system for over 8 years. 

‘‘All breeding cows receive Mayo Iodine Max cattle boluses two months pre-calving which is timed with vaccinations” Dominic comments.

 ‘‘Historically, we had an issue with heifers not getting on with calving where they would present the calf but just give up, this was due to a lack of selenium.  But that all stopped when we switched to the Iodine Max and less than half a percent are now assisted calvings which is remarkable.’’

‘’We find the Iodine Max provides the optimum trace element profile required by our cows and fertility levels are also tremendous. Conception rates are now running at around 95%.”

Replacement heifers are bolused at 12 months of age once we decide which ones we are going to retain, they are then served at 14 months.  Our replacement rate is now just 5%.

Mayo Iodine Max are the ‘Go-To’ bolus for this beef enterprise and are fantastic value for money when you compare them to others. We would recommend them to anyone.’’ Concludes Dominic.

“We also use boluses in our sheep enterprise, and also in the lambs. We were just finding that the lambs were just not picking up at that 8 week stage, and the lamb bolus just means that they fly and we can finish them quickly. The ewe lambs just grow and grow and grow.”

Dominic Naylor
Farm Manager, Lilburn Estate, Northumberland