Antifreeze testers... how?!?!!?!!?!?!

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I decided to go with the antifreeze tester as I couldn't justify the expense of a refractometer just for one mare.
I bought it off ebay as it was the only place I could find one, but the seller has helpfully chopped off the instructions to save on postage
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So... idiots guide to assembly and usage anyone?!
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The one I have is the little dropper bottle type with the 3 little balls in it. I used it on my older mare at the 3 balls shot to the top and were even left floating when I drained off the liquid underneath the bit they were in, it was good stuff.

Now have the refactometer, unfortunately I forgot to use the antifreeze thing on the one that foaled last Sat, Doh which tested just under good on the tometer.

Have another due begining of May so I'll try and remember to use both this time!

So with mine if all 3 balls float you are in business!
 
Hmmm, I don't think I have the same sort as you then
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Mine is a big pipette type thing with a glass tube inside it (shaped similar to a glass thermometer) which is weighted at the bottom and has a scale up the neck of -40 to 0
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Will go back to trawling the internet! I have tried every motor shop going, bur they all look at me like I'm mad and tell me that it is a seasonal product, therefore they don't stock it at the moment!
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Got mine for the princely sum of £1.99 at Halfords, though it wasn't on the shelf but the bloke seemed to understand ! this is it http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/store...ategoryrn_33923

What I will do is draw off some milk later and test it as the balls shouldn't float now baby is a month old.

I beleive you can use other things like hydrometers but I could not get an answer which type so I plumped for the cheapie.

Used my Refractometer from the states the other day it was so easy to use, 2 drps on the lense and hold it up to a light, this mare tested nearer good than fair. Why you can't get them at a reasonable price here I don't know.

Worked out at £40, as I got it posted to a friend to bring it back from holiday with her, so if you can find a willing "mule" to bring it back for you or you go yourself it really cuts the cost. They suggest on their own website that it would be cheaper to post it to someone stateside then get them to post it on.
 
I am going to reserve and collect a Halfords tester I think, mine definitely isn't right... never realised you could go so far wrong with an antifreeze tester
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One of the Dr's at college absolutely swears by his refractometer - he really should get shares in the company!
Do you use yours for predicting foaling as well?

Could I have the link for the place you got yours from? I could probably still be tempted to get one - though whether it will get here (via American relatives!) in time I have no idea!
 
Yes of course its http://www.arssales.com/equine/html/epfo-refractometer.html $75 ( I remember it as arseh*les!!)

It was as much again to send it to the UK, but $10 to cross the states!!!!

For foaling predition I use these they are really simple but the company will not ship to UK so those relatives might come in useful Ebay number is 360017477401 which will get you to the seller, they are very easy to use and worked a treat on my TB mare and on a maiden I tested for a friend.

You can get kits in the UK but they are quite complicated and fiddly and need quite a bit of fluid and as usual are expensive the softcheck ones above were around $9 fo 50.

I didn't know you could use the refractometer for prediciton, do you have any instructions? Only I have another due in a couple of weeks and I'll give it a go alongside the strips and see if it's more accurate.
 
Had a play with the Halfords model and the Refractometer today, the foal is about 5 weeks now and the milk tested 10 on the refractometer Poor at 0-28 g/L (IgG Concentration) Then I used the Halfords tester and the green and yellow balls sank with only the red floating. Then did the same with distilled water 0 on Refract and all balls sank, so it works.

Have found a reference on the paperwork of the refrac to Derrick Knottenbelt (Him of Ragwort fame) SO Ill e mail him and ask about predicting with the refract and let you know, plus will try it alongside the halfords and my prediction strips and see what happens!!!!!
 
Thanks for the sources
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I will check my notes, but I think with the refractometer once the level rises to around 25-30 on the scale then foaling should occur within 48hours. Dr Hillage who specialises in equine reproduction is absolutely fanatical about using the refractometer to predict foaling, and as yet (over the past 3 years) it hasn't failed him

I have a IVIS article about using the refractometer for assessing colostrum quality, which I will email to you
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