AHS Garlic Bolus 10 & 28

The Alli-Health-Support (AHS) garlic boluses contain highly concentrated, stabilised allicin: the aromatic substance from garlic (Allium sativum). They are natural complementary feeds for dairy cows, in two strengths: AHS-10 and AHS-28.

What is allicin?

Allicin is a sulphur-containing compound derived from garlic. It has attracted attention as a livestock feed ingredient because of its antioxidant properties, and it is widely studied for its antimicrobial properties. In research, allicin is described as bacteriostatic: it slows down bacterial growth rather than killing bacteria, while beneficial lactobacilli are left virtually untouched.

AHS boluses deliver allicin in a stabilised, highly concentrated form, so it remains active in the cow for a longer time.

How allicin supports your herd

• Gut health – contributes to a balanced gut flora and good digestion.
• Antioxidant – helps cattle cope with oxidative stress, for example during heat stress, transport or high milk production.
• Natural resistance – supports the natural resistance of cattle, and of calves early in life.
• Udder health and milk quality – used by dairy farmers to support udder health and a low somatic cell count (SCC).

Feeding advice

• Elevated cell count after milk recording: give 1 AHS-10.
• Older cows with a persistently high cell count: give 1 AHS-28.
• Cows that start to show flakes in the milk: give 1 AHS-10 straight away.
• Cows with a hard, swollen quarter: give 100 ml Liquid Booster plus 1 AHS-10 (older cows: 1 AHS-28), and consult your vet.

Experience from practice

Dairy farmers who give an AHS-10 at the first signs of udder problems report that their cows keep eating well and return to their previous milk yield. More flakes may come out at first; strip the quarter thoroughly at every milking.

Always keep an eye on three points:

• the cow is eating well;
• milk production is rising again;
• the cow has no fever.

If one of these points is not met, contact your vet.