Arkieman":32qg5yf5 said:
Here's a scenario that I don't understand. I feed free choice bermuda hay. I also feed a Cottonseed Meal/Rice bran ration.
Hay 75%
Bran 20%
CSM 5%
Using the OSU Ration Calculator, here is the detail
Ration Required Comment
TDN% 52.52
Fat 4.65
Fiber 25.96
Protein % 12.44 10.50 Adequate
Potassium% 1.62 .65 Toxic
Calcium% .38 .17 Adequate
Phosphorus% .53 .16 Adequate
Magnesium% .40 .10 Toxic
Sulfur% .23 .10 Excessive
Cobalt ppm .14 .10 Excessive
Copper ppm 6.50 8.00 Adequate
Iron ppm 127.50 50.00 Excessive
Manganese ppm 190.50 40.00 Excessive
Selenium ppm .20 .20 Adequate
Zinc ppm 26.10 30.00 Adequate
My question is this, if the above is accurate and they are getting adequate to excessive and in some cases TOXIC levels of these minerals, why would I need free choice minerals to increase these percentages even more??
The feed you are using may have adequate amounts of each required mineral. I do not believe it is so much the composition of the feed as what form the mineral is in and how well the animal is able to digest it. If your cattle are in good condition and there are no breeding or health problems, then I would see no need to supplement. If you just want to make sure you can have a blood test done my your local vet.
Feeding free choice mineral is just good insurance as most people do not have any type of accurate breakdown of what their cattle are really consuming.
Salt is both a limiter and flavor enhancer.
The mineral content of forage is dependent upon the mineral content of the soil it is grown in. One may not assume that there are certain amounts of available mineral or trace elements just because it is a particular varity of forage or grain.