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<blockquote data-quote="Travlr" data-source="post: 1832593" data-attributes="member: 42463"><p>The first thing to do is to speak to a good, local veterinarian. They will know if there are any local mineral deficiencies in your area. You might also talk to a local extension agent. Ag schools are also a good source of information. Don't be shy about asking questions from people that should know. You can also have tests done, specific to your own acreage.</p><p></p><p>The point being, the most expensive minerals you will ever buy are the ones you really don't need. And in business like raising cattle, it's easy to spend your way out of business.</p><p></p><p>I always used salt blocks because they were cheap and they lasted a long time. When cattle need trace minerals the key word is <strong>trace</strong>. Any deficiencies are measured in part per <strong>million</strong>, and almost always in single digits per million. That means maybe a teaspoon or less of trace mineral over the course of a year. Hell... maybe over the course of a cow's lifespan. </p><p></p><p>When these people selling minerals mix their batches they will dump in a dimes worth of trace mineral and by the time you buy it, it's $30. But they will tell you that their minerals, mostly salt, are necessary to the health of your cattle.</p><p></p><p>And maybe they are right... but often they are just selling fear.</p><p></p><p>You can be smart enough to check, or you can just buy their expensive "cheap insurance".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Travlr, post: 1832593, member: 42463"] The first thing to do is to speak to a good, local veterinarian. They will know if there are any local mineral deficiencies in your area. You might also talk to a local extension agent. Ag schools are also a good source of information. Don't be shy about asking questions from people that should know. You can also have tests done, specific to your own acreage. The point being, the most expensive minerals you will ever buy are the ones you really don't need. And in business like raising cattle, it's easy to spend your way out of business. I always used salt blocks because they were cheap and they lasted a long time. When cattle need trace minerals the key word is [B]trace[/B]. Any deficiencies are measured in part per [B]million[/B], and almost always in single digits per million. That means maybe a teaspoon or less of trace mineral over the course of a year. Hell... maybe over the course of a cow's lifespan. When these people selling minerals mix their batches they will dump in a dimes worth of trace mineral and by the time you buy it, it's $30. But they will tell you that their minerals, mostly salt, are necessary to the health of your cattle. And maybe they are right... but often they are just selling fear. You can be smart enough to check, or you can just buy their expensive "cheap insurance". [/QUOTE]
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