Rumenco has announced it has taken over the distribution of Grouse Grit following the acquisition of Owens Nutrition Ltd. The products remain unchanged with unmedicated and medicated options available that are suitable for all types of gamebirds. The medicated graded Cornish quartz grit includes an added dewormer along with a weatherproof coating.
“Rumenco, trading under the name Owens Nutriton, is proud to add Grouse Grit to its range of animal health supplements. Recent years have been challenging for bird populations and having a tool like Grouse Grit is essential to game keepers throughout the UK,” says Rumenco’s Technical Formulations Associate, Sophie Thorpe.
Quartz grit in the gizzard aids the digestion of heather shoots, which makes up approximately 80 percent of the fibrous diet of a grouse*. The medicated quartz-based grit is coated with specific blend of fat into which the dewormer is added. This dewormer is unique in targeting all stages of the worm’s life cycle.
If requested, specially selected yeast and plant extract can be added to Grouse Grit to support gut health during parasitic challenge.
“Using medicated grit can help reduce worm burdens in grouse, improve body condition of adult birds and increase chick survival rates, thus increasing grouse productivity,” says Sophie.
Developed in the 1980s to help tackle the threat of the disease Strongylosis or strongyle worm, medicated Grouse Grit is distributed predominately on moors that record a high worm burden. It requires a veterinary prescription and should only be used when the shooting season has finished. However, unmedicated grit can be used year-round to aid digestion and support gut health of the birds.
“Our technical team is on hand to help any game keepers in need of advice over the coming weeks as the shooting season comes to a close,” concludes Sophie.
