Bloat Dispensers

Controls bloat the efficient, economical way

With a PETA Dispenser you can control bloat easily through dispensing bloat control material in the drinking trough. Simply place in the trough and the job is done.

  • Say ‘Goodbye’ to the drudgery of drenching!
  • Dispenses bloat control material in drinking trough water.
  • The correct amount of treatment dispensed per-animal per-day, regardless of herd size.
  • 12-hour or 24-hour output matches the drinking pattern of animals.

Features

PETA Bloat Dispensers are available in 12-hour and 24-hour units. Both units have these features:

  • Safe and economical—lowers your cost of bloat control so you can control bloat for longer.
  • Use as primary bloat protection. Only need to drench in very high risk periods.
  • Maintains the regular daily dose your stock need with minimal work.  Each treatment lasts 12 or 24 hours.
  • Uses a standard 5 litre or 10 litre container.
  • When maintained will last many years.
  • Developed by agricultural scientists at Ruakura Research Centre.

Dealing Effectively with Bloat

Spring is the most common time for bloat to occur. Bloat is caused by a stable foam developing on top of the rumen liquid which blocks the release of the gas. Initial signs of bloat can develop within an hour of cows moving onto pasture, especially in hungry cows. In extreme cases death can occur within 15 minutes after developing bloat. It can be quite unpredictable.  It is therefore vital that you use effective bloat control.

PETA Bloat Dispensers are designed to dispense bloat treatment liquids, such as Bloatenz, in water troughs for highly efficient bloat control.  The unique design of PETA Dispensers provides powerful treatment without the drudgery of twice daily drenching. PETA Dispensers have been manufactured and proven for almost 40 years. Simply place in the trough and your job is done.

Longer Bloat Control

PETA Bloat Dispensers use less bloat control material than drenching but dose your stock more effectively. When diluted in drinking water the bloat control 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.

This allows bloat treatment to be carried out for a longer period at the same cost. More importantly, the toxic side effects from drenching with the concentrate are avoided.

Drenching is Only Needed as a Backup

PETA Bloat Dispensers can be your primary bloat prevention method. No more drudgery of twice-daily drenching needed! You’ll only need to use drenching as your secondary protection in very high risk periods, or when there is exceptionally high rainfall (as this significantly reduces the animals’ water intake).

If “indicator cows” show signs of bloat, you should increase the dose rate or supplement with drenching.

The PETA Principle: Dosing Per Animal Per Day

Daily water intakes can vary from 10 litres to as much as 70 litres per cow, depending on the temperature of the day, the dry-matter content of the feed, and other factors. A water treatment system must compensate for these large fluctuations and prevent over-dosing on high intake days and under-dosing on low intake days. Only the patented PETA Dispensers can meet these requirements. The PETA Principle states that dosage must be calculated on a per-animal per-day basis. (Not a per litre basis, which would result in over-dosing and under-dosing). With the clever engineering of PETA Dispensers, animals receive the dosage they need each day, regardless of fluctuations in water intake. For more information click here.

12-hour and 24-hour Models

The Bloat Dispensers are available in 12-hour and 24-hour models. The 12-hour units are designed to match the drinking pattern of milking cows. The 24-hour dispenser is good for beef cattle and dry stock as it matches the longer 24-hour drinking pattern.

12-hour Units – For Milking Cows and High Risk

The 12-hour units are designed for milking cows. They dispense the bloat material at two different rates – the DAY unit is placed in the trough straight after the morning milking. The NIGHT dispenser is placed in the trough after the evening milking.

It is of critical importance that animals ingest the anti-foaming bloat control agent soon after eating, to avoid bloat developing. This is why the specific 12-hour dispensers were developed for milking cows. Do NOT use the 24-hour unit for milking cows as it will not provide adequate protection. When buying this dispenser just look for the large “12-hour units” icon on the packaging.

Drinking Patterns Research

The outflow of PETA Bloat Dispenser 12-Hour Units are designed to match the average water intake of a dairy herd.

This provides an almost constant concentration of bloat treatment in the water even though the trough continues to fill through the ball-cock. This means each cow receives a constant dose regardless of the time of drinking.

The graph shows that in low drinking periods the concentration remains high, so that cows get their needed dose from only drinking a little.  In high drinking periods the concentration remains low, so that cows get their needed dose while drinking a lot.

The day dispenser gives a 6-8 hour outflow period, covering the morning drinking period.  The night dispenser has a 3-4 hour outflow period covering the much shorter evening drinking period.

24-hour Unit – For Dry Stock, including Sheep

The 24-hour dispenser means that each treatment lasts 24 hours.  This is the most efficient way to treat dry stock such as beef and  sheep, and is ideal for run offs, and other farm stock.

The dispenser must be placed in the trough in the morning before major drinking begins. The dispensing rate of the 24-hour dispenser matches the drinking pattern of 24-hour grazing herds.

When buying this dispenser just look for the large “24-hour unit” icon on the packaging.

Container Size

The bloat dispensers come with a single lid size, which is designed to fit a 5L flagon and 10L jerrycan.

Herds with less than 200 cows can use a 5L flagon.  If your herd size is over 200 cows you may need the 10L jerrycan, or two dispensers in 5L flagons, otherwise the solution in the bottle may be too thick to dispense properly.

Instructions

Download the instruction sheets for the PETA Bloat Dispensers. The instructions include how to use the dispenser step-by-step, dosage rates, additional usage information and a weekly tracking chart.

Frequently Ask Questions for Bloat Dispenser

Bloat Dispenser

Are the tube lengths critical?

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

Can a Bloat Dispenser and Multi-Purpose Dispenser be used in the same trough?

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.

Is it important for the PETA Dispenser to be floating upright in the water trough?

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.

Should I monitor my stock for bloat?

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.

What if there is more than one trough per paddock?

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.

When should we start bloat treatment with a dispenser?

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.

Why can’t I just put the bloat treatment directly into the trough?

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.

Why do you not recommend dosing water on a per-litre basis?

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

Why is the PETA Dispenser container still full of water at the end of the 24 or 48 hour treatment period?

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

Developed and manufactured in New Zealand

PETA Dispensers started manufacturing dispensers in 1976 based on scientific water studies at world-renowned Ruakura Research Centre, in Waikato, New Zealand. The dispensers continue to be developed, manufactured and serviced in Hamilton, New Zealand. You can read about the history of PETA Dispensers here.  

Warranty

Each dispenser is made from high quality materials and guaranteed against all defects in construction and materials for 12 months from the purchase date. Please complete the warranty registration form within two months of purchase. For warranty needs contact us.

Available in New Zealand, Australia, UK, Japan and more.