Mineral Blocks

[Ashton V]

As far as a free choice mineral program, is leaving a mineral block out all the time enough or do i need to be doing more?
Please feel free to tell me about your mineral programs and what seems to work best.

 

[B&M Farms]

some mineral blocks contain only trace minerals. Also. cattle may not be able to consume enough. Using a quality loose mineral would be a better option.

 

[Ashton V]

By trace minerals i assume you mean that most of the block is really salt with only a small portion actually being minerals? Also is there a certain brand or mix of loose mineral that you would recommend?

 

[CKC1586]

I have used ADM mineral but prefer the VitaFerm they have formulas to fit your operation.

 

[dun]

Talk to your vet or to a trusted person at the feedstore. Mineralsd are generally formulated for different areas. We use Vigortone, but Purina, and ADM all have good products

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Talk to your vet or to a trusted person at the feedstore. Mineralsd are generally formulated for different areas. We use Vigortone, but Purina, and ADM all have good products

:nod: :nod:
Cattle cannot get any where near the minerals needed out of a mineral block. Even if they licked 24/7.

 

[dun]

Talk to your vet or to a trusted person at the feedstore. Mineralsd are generally formulated for different areas. We use Vigortone, but Purina, and ADM all have good products

:nod: :nod:
Cattle cannot get any where near the minerals needed out of a mineral block. Even if they licked 24/7.

I agree. It's one of those deals like a fancy paint job on a fishing lure. It's made to make the buyer feel better but doesn;t do squat

 

[Lucky_P]

Jeanne is on target. TM salt blocks can't effectively supply cows' needs in most areas.
Additionally, if you're in an area where the soil and forages are copper-deficient, the Iron oxide, added as a filler/coloring agent in those 'red' trace mineral salt blocks, actually blocks copper absorption sites in the intestine, making any potential for copper deficiency that much worse.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Lucky_P - didn't know that, thanks. I learned that sulfa blocks copper & SE (we - the cattle - have sulfa water)

 

[TexasBred]

As far as a free choice mineral program, is leaving a mineral block out all the time enough or do i need to be doing more?
Please feel free to tell me about your mineral programs and what seems to work best.

Ashton everything already posted is true, however, some companies such as Stockade do manufacture blocks which are actual "mineral" blocks and formulated with stated percentages of all minerals as well as added vitamins. They would be considered "true mineral blocks" rather than a simple salt block with a "trace" of mineral. Personally I still prefer loose mineral.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

TB - I have never heard of them - of course, I've never heard of Stockade. But, I'm never in the market for mineral so I don't pay attention - just haven't heard of them.

 

[TexasBred]

TB - I have never heard of them - of course, I've never heard of Stockade. But, I'm never in the market for mineral so I don't pay attention - just haven't heard of them.

Jeanne I believe Stockade (aka Harvest Brand) is headquartered in Kansas..Another company that manufactures these type blocks is Ragland Mills. Both or well known in this area and make good products.

 

[Santas and Duhram Reds]

I used Ragland Mills instead of loose for the first time this winter and I just might like it. The blocks I am buying are more like pressed loose mineral than what you typically think of when you buy a mineral block that is hard as a rock. I can actually crumble them with my hand. i switched this winter because Ragland mills makes a protein mineral block that I thought I would try instead of buying a tub. The consumption seems to be way down compared to the tubs and it is cheaper. I just might try other products come spring and summer since their products are cheaper than the Kent mineral I usually buy.

 

[SRBeef]

I think in the end look very closely at the ingredients list in any mineral. Personally I don't think you can beat the Mineralyx tubs for a complete mineral. There are various threads here discussing iodine, selenium and copper etc shortages. Supplying these and other minerals is not cheap but maybe cheaper than the problems caused by not having them. I put out Mineralyx tubs and white salt blocks.

Here is the ingredient list of Mineralyx for a comparison: http://www.crystalyx.com/beef/pdfs/Mineral-lyx.pdf

Jim

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

The tubs are not much better than a mineral block,they have to lick and lick and lick and lick just to get the mineral they need. Loose mineral is the best way for a cow to lick all they want in a short time.

 

[TexasBred]

I used Ragland Mills instead of loose for the first time this winter and I just might like it. The blocks I am buying are more like pressed loose mineral than what you typically think of when you buy a mineral block that is hard as a rock. I can actually crumble them with my hand. i switched this winter because Ragland mills makes a protein mineral block that I thought I would try instead of buying a tub. The consumption seems to be way down compared to the tubs and it is cheaper. I just might try other products come spring and summer since their products are cheaper than the Kent mineral I usually buy.

S&DR they are literally a "pressed block"...Mix the ingredients and then apply high pressure to form it into a cake type block. They work well.

 

[backhoeboogie]

A whole lot of folks don't realize that common "mineral blocks" sold in feed stores are 97% salt. Hence a 50 lb block only has a pound and a half of mineral in it. If you are throwing out 4 or 5 of these blocks for your cows and that's all they are getting, you're probably way off base.

If you are going to use blocks in your program, read the labels and don't be mislead.

 

[SRBeef]

The tubs are not much better than a mineral block,they have to lick and lick and lick and lick just to get the mineral they need. Loose mineral is the best way for a cow to lick all they want in a short time.

I actually think that is a benefit of tubs. They take a few licks a couple times a day and have a continuous but low level supply of the needed vitamins and minerals they need rather than big dosages.

As we have debated here before, there is some question whether or not catlle will "find what they need". If cows are short on selenium for example, will they tend to seek out things with more selenium? Which may in fact not taste very good by itself? Sort of like kids vitamins - made to taste good so they will take them readily?

The Mineralyx tub minerals are in a sweet molasses base but hard. This combination makes them palateable but somewhat controls the consumption rate. When first put out they may lick a lot. However I find the consumption rate levels off when I have the tubs out continuously.

Jim

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Jim you don't need to tell me what the tubs are i no what they are and do. Have used Vita Ferm tubs for a few years. And i still keep out a good loose mineral the cow still go lick the loose mineral iven with the tubs out.

 

[dun]

As we have debated here before, there is some question whether or not catlle will "find what they need". If cows are short on selenium for example, will they tend to seek out things with more selenium? Which may in fact not taste very good by itself?
Jim

Some studys I saw a year or so ago claimed that they don;t "know" when they need a particular mineral. If they did (my opinion) you could just put out tubs with each one having a specific mineral in it and they could do the buffet. If the mineral is camoflauged with something else to make it palitable how do they know that the mineral the need is there?