Has anyone noticed your cattle eating way less if any loose mineral when the weather gets cold? It is has been in the 20's every night here for about 2 weeks, we might reach 35-40 on a "warm" day. Several days stayed right at 30-32. All of the sudden my cows quit eating their mineral. I was wondering if that is because they dont need much when it's that cold?
Loose Mineral Question
- Thread starter CWT Angus
- Start date
CWT Angus":2ylq17so said:
Probably depends on what they're eating now vs what they were eating before. Our consumption goes way up in the fall when they first get onto the stockpiled fescue but it tapers off a little but not by a significant amount A day or 2 more to eat a bag.
dun
At first they ate a bag in 2 weeks for a pen of 8 cows. The next bag lasted 3-4 weeks. In the last week or so they haven't seemed to eat any that I can tell. I was thinking of scooping it out & saving it & putting some fresh in to see if they want that. It did get a bit damp in the last storm, but the consistancy is the same. Could it maybe taste different to them?
Susie David
Well-known member
Don't drink as much water either...all still take in minerals and water so I'm not worried....free choice. When they avoid the mineral feeder then I'll start to worry....DMc
