Veyx-Pharma UK Sales – FeVit Drenchers
The standard Englass 2ml drenchers were used exclusively to deliver FeVit into the piglet over the first 12 months of sales in the UK. A number of users subsequently enquired if an alternative and more robust device was available. Regardless of the method used, it is essential to ensure that each piglet gets the 2ml dose and that the dose remains inside the piglet. FeVit users evaluated two alternative methods using automatic syringes with a small drencher attachment: These are the Bühnermat produced and marketed by Veyx-Pharma and an alternative Phillips product that is a little cheaper to purchase and is also available in the UK at most leading agricultural merchants.
The following photographs illustrate the three alternative methods of giving BioWeyxin FeVit ORAL IRON – these can also be used for the other BioWeyxin nutrient emulsion products.
The
Bühnermat
The Bühnermat retails to FeVit users direct from Veyx-Pharma UK at around £65 plus the bottle connector attachment for a further £9 . This is fixed directly to the 500ml FeVit bottle with a very short connecting tube. Although at first it appears large and unwieldy it does balance well and is very easy to use. Spare parts for the Bühnermat are available through Veyx-Pharma who hold the manufacturing rights. This drencher is proving very reliable and effective in practice.
The Phillips 5 ml Drencher 441065 (Cox)
The Phillips Drencher retails for around £35 in the UK and is available through agricultural merchants. This drencher is attached to the 500ml bottle via a flexible tube fixed to a screw cap valve connector supplied by Messrs Veyx-Pharma. This valve connector has the same plastic insert used as the valve in the Englass Swift 2ml grey ring drencher. In effect all three methods have a common valve assembly ensuring ready availability of spares in the event of damage or loss.
Englass Swift grey ring 2ml drencher attachment
Common valve for the bottle connector
The valve can be easily removed for cleaning under a running tap
COMMENTS ON THE DRENCHERS
The Phillips drencher is light to handle and very flexible. The drencher attachment fits well into the piglet’s mouth and as long as the product is used at room temperature it flows well, although the longer tube will clog up if it is not used daily. Additional costs are incurred over the basic Englass drencher and these also include an additional £9 for the bottle connector valve and up to £15 for a bottle holder that can be hung over the shoulder (not shown). The total cost would be around £60 for this option. The Englass Swift drenchers costs around £3 and these have a relatively limited life.
The Bühnermat retails in Germany at around £65 plus the bottle connector attachment for a further £9. This is fixed directly to the 500ml bottle and although it appears large and unwieldy it does balance well and is very easy to use. Spare parts for the Bühnermat are available through Veyx-Pharma Worldwide. Like the Phillips automatic syringe it can also be used as an automatic syringe when fitted with a needle attachment.
Material flow
All three methods will not function well if the equipment is not flushed through regularly with water at blood heat. They also work best with the product at 20 to 25°C – keep it warm in winter prior to and during use. As stated, the Phillips drencher probably requires flushing out on a daily basis as the FeVit will tend to thicken in the plastic tube. This can be done quite quickly using an empty 500ml bottle containing some water at body heat – mild washing up liquid can also be safely used if necessary – flushing it out afterwards with clean water.
The Phillips drencher holds a number of doses in the cylinder and the long tube. This should be pumped back into the FeVit bottle once the connector is removed. The FeVit bottle can be reconnected in the upright position following cleaning the drencher, connecting piece and tube.
Always return the FeVit bottle to the vertical once the iron treatment is completed with all three methods illustrated. This ensures that the product does not flow into the air valve – this helps to keep it clear and working efficiently.
Bühnermat drencher and bottle connector
Always keep the FeVit bottle inverted when giving the FeVit to the piglet, thus ensuring that no air is drawn into the syringe and so avoiding the risk of reducing the amount fed.
Advantages and Disadvantages (practical observations)
The Phillips drencher gives maximum freedom together with a very light load on the operator’s hand. The need to clean the equipment regularly will involve more time for this chore than with the other systems and there is a risk of the long delivery tube blocking up.
The Bühnermat gives a good degree of freedom and it balances well in the hand even when the 500ml bottle is full. The equipment requires regular cleaning to ensure 100% efficiency. The dosing attachment is a good length and allows the operator to develop a very efficient technique. This product has been in use for decades as an automatic syringe and is well proven in practice.
The Englass Swift drencher is the least expensive and is reasonably easy to use. It is quite heavy when the 500ml bottle is full although this does not appear to be a problem in practice. It also requires cleaning to ensure maximum efficiency – this can be done quickly under a running tap. There are some comments that as this product ages it becomes less efficient and dosage rates may vary – this could be due to poor cleaning. This is probably the drencher of choice for small to medium sized units, but it needs changing regularly.
Neville Beynon
01/2002
