Minerals

[Wildwily]

I bought a loose powdered mineral from a rancher who said he used it to pull/separate bulls from cows on large range pasture. Wildlife (elk, deer, bears, coyotes) are attracted to it also. Where I dumped it on the ground the animals ate the grass to the dirt in a few days. It looked like fine loose trace mineral with I'm assuming salt/phosphorus/selenium etc in it.
Does this sound like a common commercial cattle mineral product? That any of you use?

 

[TCRanch]

He bought it to separate bulls from cows? I got nuthin, never heard of that. But if your cattle (and other wildlife) ate it to the ground, it appears they're severely lacking in minerals. Get a soil sample and have it tested. You could start with your local Extension, if you have one in your area, or ask your vet what they recommend.

The loose mineral I use is formulated for my area (geography matters) and includes Altosid IGR, garlic and CTC (need a VFD from your vet for the chlortetracycline). It's granular, not powdered. And suitable for cows, bulls and calves. And the occasional raccoon that gets in the mineral feeder.

 

[Dave]

The various makes of minerals I have used over the years are all glandular. I have seen powdery minerals but not any I have used.

 

[RDFF]

If you put mineral on a pile on the ground, they WILL lick the ground all the way to the dirt, IMO. I've never seen them not do that, unless MAYBE, if you're keeping a good supply in front of 'em so they don't need to lick the dirt. They're going after the salt that's in it... most mineral products use salt as a base "limiter". I just use Redmonds 10 Fine (mineral salt... natural sea salt)... nothing else... however, my custom herd owner uses Purina Wind & Rain.

 

[simme]

Minerals manufactured for sale should have a label listing ingredients, ppm or %, and feeding instructions. Reading the label would be my starting point. No label - I would not use it.

 

[M.Magis]

I think they maybe just bought a bucket full from a local rancher to use for wildlife, and now they'd like to get something similar. It sounds like any common mineral with a decent salt content. The salt is the attractant, a bag of loose mixing salt will achieve the same results for less money.