Zinc Dispensers

Prevents facial eczema the efficient, economical way

With a PETA Dispenser you can prevent facial eczema easily through dispensing Zinc Sulphate in the drinking trough. Simply place in the trough and the job is done.

  • The simplest way to say ‘Goodbye’ to facial eczema!
  • Dispenses Zinc Sulphate in drinking trough water to prevent facial eczema.
  • The correct amount of treatment dispensed per-animal per-day.
  • 24-hour and 48-hour models – Maintains a regulated dose for the period.
  • Simply place in the trough and the job is done.

Features

The Zinc Dispenser is available in 24-hour and 48-hour models. Both models have these features:

  • Uses solid material – no dissolving or straining needed.
  • Maintains the regular daily dose your stock need with minimal work.
  • Uses a standard jerrycan
  • When maintained will last many years.
  • Developed by agricultural scientists at Ruakura Research Centre.

24-hour and 48-hour Models

The Zinc Dispenser is available in 24-hour and 48-hour models. The 24-hour model is designed for milking cows. The 48-hour model is perfect for dry stock, run offs, sheep and beef.

The 24-hour dispenser is designed for milking cows. It dispenses the zinc over a 24-hour period, matching the drinking pattern of milking cows. The dispenser is moved with the animals if the animals are moved during the 24 hour period. When buying this dispenser just look for the large “24-hour unit” icon on the packaging.

The innovative 48-hour Bead Jet means that each treatment lasts 48 hours.  This is ideal for dry stock, run offs, and other farm stock.

Once you have filled the dispenser, simply place in the trough and the job is done. Just come back after 2 days to refill the dispenser with new zinc.  When buying this dispenser just look for the large “48-hour unit” icon on the packaging.

Container and Lid Sizes

Our dispensers are designed to fit a range of container sizes.  The size of container you need will be determined by your herd size and the treatment period, because you need to be able to fit the full amount of treatment material in the container.

Here is our simple guide for choosing the correct container size for your farm.

Choosing the Right Container Size – Zinc Dispenser

Herd Size 24 hr Dispenser 48 hr Dispenser
Up to 80 5L flagon 10L jerrycan
80-220 10L jerrycan 20L jerrycan
220+ 20L jerrycan 20L jerrycan

 

In some countries, such as New Zealand, the different sized containers have different lid sizes. In which case you have to choose the correct dispenser to fit your container size.

New Zealand dispensers come in two different lid sizes. One to fit “5L or 10L Jerrycan” and the other to fit “20L Jerrycan”. It is important you purchase the correct size dispenser to fit your container.

5-or-10-jerrycan

 

 

If the container size you need is a 5L flagon or 10L jerrycan look for this label on the front and side of the box.

20L-jerrycan

 

 

If the container size you need is a 20L jerrycan look for this label on the front and side of the box.

In Australia a single cap fits all three sizes of container. So there are no dispenser sizes to pick from.  Just purchase the dispenser, and choose whatever size container you need.

In UK a single cap fits both the 10L and 20L sizes of container. (There is no 5L flagon option).  So there are no dispenser sizes to pick from.  Just purchase the dispenser, and choose whatever size container you need.

See the product instructions in store, or contact us for details about your country.

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.

Instructions

Download the instructions sheets for the PETA Zinc 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 Zinc Dispenser

Zinc 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 the zinc dispenser really use solid material?

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).

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.

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.

What livestock can a zinc dispenser be used for?

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

What’s the difference between Zinc and Multi-Purpose Dispensers?

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.

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.