Too Mineral or not...

[jsully]

I have a Small young heard of commercial beef cattle. They are primarily grass feed with some sweet feed on occasion. I have placed a couple salt blocks for them, should i place other minerals out there with them or is it not necessary?

 

[KAstocker]

Yes, for best performance you will want to always have a mineral out.

 

[callmefence]

Seems to depend on location..idk.
I've never been able to tell mineral did a thing for me except lighten my wallet.

 

[jsully]

Seems to depend on location..idk.
I've never been able to tell mineral did a thing for me except lighten my wallet.

We are about 1.5 hrs Northwest of Charlotte NC. I

 

[kenny thomas]

We are about 1.5 hrs Northwest of Charlotte NC. I

Get a recommendation from the University extension agent for what is actually needed in your area. Some areas are deficient in certain minerals.

 

[SBMF 2015]

I am a firm believer; Feeding mineral solves problems you don't even know exist.
Especially conception rates, calf vigor, better cow BCS'S because they can utilize there feed stuffs better.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Do some soil samples to find what is short in your area. Can save you a lot of money on fertilizer, and mineral.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I am a firm believer; Feeding mineral solves problems you don't even know exist.
Especially conception rates, calf vigor, better cow BCS'S because they can utilize there feed stuffs better.

This! ^^^^
I've also seen a great reduction in pinkeye.
But that's debatable as well.

 

[jsully]

Thank you guys for a the information. Its a huge help.

 

[jsully]

Here are a few pictures of my herd. Thanks for all the advise!

 

[Bigfoot]

If I'm not mistaken, my cows eat about 2 bags of mineral apiece per year. I've never not fed mineral. My dad only fed trace for 60 years or more. Couldn't tell a nickels worth of difference in his place and mine. I still feed it though.

 

[Silver]

TM blocks are what my cows are forced to make do on. I am fortunate to live in an area with no natural major deficiencies or over concentrations.

 

[Karin]

You can't afford to not skimp out on the mineral. A person doesn't know what problems they already have when they're selling themselves--and their herd--short on mineral until they invest in some minerals for their animals. I too am a firm believer. That little extra cost in mineral pays for itslf in the end, even if you don't see the benefits immediately.

 

[TCRanch]

I provide mineral year 'round, based on my vets recommendation & region. Mineral with CTC starting about a month prior to tick season (generally late March/early April).

 

[Dave]

I veiw minerals like vaccinations. You can get by without them in some areas and not in others. But either way they are a small part of the cost of keep cattle. But over time they will eventually save you money.

 

[gcreekrch]

I veiw minerals like vaccinations. You can get by without them in some areas and not in others. But either way they are a small part of the cost of keep cattle. But over time they will eventually save you money.

Agreed Dave, I still remember how many calves we doctored for scours and respiratory problems at calving and weaning before we got our mineral and vaccination protocols right.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

FIRM believer in loose mineral and vaccinations.

 

[Mgutzwiler]

I have a Small young heard of commercial beef cattle. They are primarily grass feed with some sweet feed on occasion. I have placed a couple salt blocks for them, should i place other minerals out there with them or is it not necessary?

Very important to offer free choice minerals. They will only consume what they need. The first time you put minerals out they are apt to consume a lot! but keep them in front of them and the consumption will slow down after their systems balance out.

 

[Hereford2]

Definitely use loose minerals, we skipped one year and had our herd break out in Pink Eye for the first time ever, we'd had cattle 30 year's, never had Pink eye until we skipped the one year with mineral. That was a few years ago and we have been feeding mineral ever since and no more pink eye!

 

[bulldog04]

I keep it out because if we don't we will have a lot of retained placentas. Reading online that means my area is deficient in selenium. I just feed plain all season Purina and then switch to high mag in the spring