---
title: "Technology"
description: ""
url: "https://www.bimedanutrition.com/technology"
date: "2026-05-29T19:19:01+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

### From Glass to Grass:

How Innovative Soluble Glass Boluses Transformed Livestock Nutrition

### A surprising partnership between glass experts and animal nutrition researchers led to a breakthrough in cattle and sheep fertility and health.

How our trace element boluses were born

12 June 2030

Timeline Item Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

12 June 2030

1970's - 1980's

Dr. Steward Telfer (Animal Nutrition, University of Leeds) explores delivering trace elements to the reticulum of ruminants using soluble glass.

Research Team Forms

Dr Telfer, George Zervas (PhD student), and Peter Knott (Leeds Ceramics Dept) set out to develop a soluble glass bolus containing essential trace elements.

Research Team Forms

Breakthrough

Combination of glass and nutrition expertise → Patent-protected soluble glass bolus with constant, controlled trace element release for months.

Industry Partnership

Patent attracts Dr. Brian Algar at Pilkington Glass → leads to joint University-Pilkington project for further glass technology development.

Industry Partnership

Commercialisation Under Bimeda

In October 2013, Bimeda Animal Health acquired Telsol who previously launched Cosecure boluses to the UK market.

Today

Cosecure boluses are used worldwide and remain the only soluble glass trace element bolus delivering rumen available ionic copper to tackle both forms of copper deficiency.

Today

[Learn More ](https://www.bimedanutrition.com/technology/the-research)

What is the difference between rumen-available copper and copper oxide?

| Feature | Cosecure Soluble Glass Boluses | Other Nutritional Capsules/Boluses |
|---|---|---|
| Form of Copper | Ionic Copper | Copper oxide |
| Activation pH | Active at rumen pH (5.5-6.5) | Active only at low pH |
| Effectiveness in the Rumen | Yes - releases rumen-available, sacrificial copper | No - copper oxide is not active in rumen conditions |
| Trace-Element Availability | Provides rumen-available copper, essential for effective supplementation | Cannot provide rumen-available copper due to pH mismatch |
| Key Advantage | Only bolus delivering ionic copper in the rumen to prevent thiomolybdate toxicity | Limited activity, copper becomes available only in lower pH sections of the digestive tract |

FAQS

The critical difference between Cosecure and other nutritional supplements is that Cosecure supplies **rumen-available** elements.

The copper in our unique boluses is in the form of **ionic copper**, which is active in the same pH range as the rumen. This means that the minerals are highly available to the animals in the rumen.

Some boluses supply copper in the form of Copper Oxide. Copper Oxide is active at much lower pH levels, and requires exposure to abomasal acidity before release of the copper.

The cow will ingest molybdenum and sulphur through its diet. Molybdenum and sulphur bind together to form something called Thiomolybdate. Thiomolybdate is very ‘copper-hungry’. It binds with **copper in the rumen** and when there is no copper left in the rumen, it moves into the bloodstream and binds to the copper-co-dependent enzymes there.

These enzymes are vital for **fertility** and productivity. When the molybdenum and sulphur combination (thiomolybdate) binds with these copper enzymes in the blood, they are rendered inactive, so fertility and productivity are impaired. Some farmers will know this as ‘copper lock’ or ‘secondary copper deficiency’. We know it as TMT (or thiomolybdate toxicity).

To stop ‘copper lock’ or ‘TMT’ occurring, we need to stop the molybdenum and sulphur combination (thiomolybdate), from moving out of the rumen and into the bloodstream. The only way to do this is to supply enough copper in the rumen to satisfy the thiomolybdate’s ‘copper hunger’.

Because Cosecure’s copper is rumen-available, it is able to do this. It supplies copper in the rumen continuously for up to 6 months, meaning the thiomolybdate doesn’t pass into the blood in search of more copper; it doesn’t bind with the blood’s copper-dependent enzymes and it therefore doesn’t impair fertility and productivity.

Unlike cobalt-oxide boluses, the Cosecure boluses supply ionic cobalt which is rumen-available.

Bacteria in the rumen require cobalt in order to synthesize Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is vital for energy utilisation and productivity. The body has no capacity to store cobalt, so Cosecure’s ability to continually supply rumen-available cobalt for up to 6 months is ideal for improving cobalt supply and promoting health in cattle.

Lots of factors! Fertility, immunity, thrive and productivity are extremely complex issues with many causes and it is important to always consult a vet and understand your herd’s nutritional status before using any boluses, medicines or other nutritional products. For more information on the bolus range, contact your vet.

The two boluses have different names due to the trace elements that they contain. Cosecure contains cobalt, selenium and copper. Coseicure is the same but with the addition of iodine. The ionic symbols for each trace element are included in the name of the boluses. For example, Co = cobalt, Se = Selenium, I = Iodine, Cu = copper, when put together we have CoSeICu. Adding ‘re’ = Coseicure. Both boluses utilise the exact same technology and manufacturing process.

Often the signs of trace element deficiency in cattle and sheep can be subclinical. Such as reduced growth, sub optimal fertility and lower milk yields. In other cases, we see clinical symptoms such as stillborn calves or lambs, white muscle disease, pica and goitre. The symptoms can vary depending on which trace element is the most severely lacking. The best approach is to speak to your vet, often forage samples in conjunction with bloods from animals is a good practical approach. Alternatively, methods such as liver biopsy can be utilised. The results can indicate potential underlying trace element deficiencies.

Cosecure and Coseicure boluses can generally be purchased from your vet, local animal health store or via online animal health retailers. Contact us if you’d like to know where you can purchase Cosecure boluses local to you.

Correct application is crucial to avoid harming the animal and avoiding regurgitation of the bolus. Therefore, it is crucial that you use a Cosecure bolus gun that is correct for the type of bolus you are using whether it is a sheep, lamb calf, or cow bolus.

Copper Myths

**Reality:** Thiomolybdate (MoS4) binds to copper and makes it useless. However, this useless copper will still show up in blood tests.

**Reality:** More does not necessarily mean better. Where thiomolybdate toxicity occurs, it is vital that bolus copper is rumen-available. While some nutritional capsules may contain more copper, if this is in the form of copper oxide, it may only be available in the abomasum where it may simply be absorbed into the body and cannot stop the thiomolybdate uptake into the blood.

Cosecure and CoseIcure boluses contain ionic copper, which is active in the same pH range as the rumen.

**Reality:** TMT can have both visible (clinical) and invisible (subclinical) symptoms and consequences. Examples of the visible symptoms are poor fleece quality, gingering coat, and bald spectacle eyes. However, some of the more damaging consequences of TMT are invisible, such as reduced fertility and impaired energy utilisation.

Just because and improvement in outwardly symptoms, such as coat colour, is observed, this does not mean the more severe animal health issues have been rectified.

However when ionic copper is readily rumen-available, it binds with Thiomolybdate in the rumen and prevents it from passing into the blood stream. This means thiomolybdate can not bind with copper co-dependent enzymes in the blood and this TMT is prevented.

**Reality:** Cosecure Cattle boluses are different to all other boluses. They contain ionic copper which is readily available in the rumen, as ionic copper is active in the same pH range as the rumen.

Some boluses deliver copper in the form of copper oxide. However, copper oxide requires a low pH to become active. As the normal range of rumen pH is higher, between pH 5.5 and pH 6.5, it is chemically impossible for copper oxide to become active here. Copper oxide only becomes active in the abomasum (which has a pH range of 2 to 4), where it may simply be absorbed into the body, and cannot stop Thiomolybdate uptake into the blood. Rumen-available copper is essential for the prevention of thiomolybdate uptake into the blood, and consequent Thiomolybdate Toxicity.

## Schema

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 1,
            "name": "Home",
            "item": "https://www.bimedanutrition.com"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 2,
            "name": "Technology",
            "item": "https://www.bimedanutrition.com/technology"
        }
    ]
}
```