Vitamin & Mineral Supplements?

Gather App
UnlistMe
Inventry
V

VtMapleGal

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
181
City & State/Province
Vermont
I hear some of you feed a vitamin/mineral supplement? I have a heifer whom i am undecided about either 1. sending to slaughter or 2. breeding. I will probably keep her and breed her. Anyways, she is about 4 months old. She is getting a 16% sweet feed grain, (about 3 1/2 pounds a day) and free choice grass hay. Should she get a vitamin/mineral supplement? I was looking at the ones at tractor Supply Company. http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pc ... &sonID=177 Any you think would work? It has to be safe for horses too, as she shares a pasture (the only set up i have).
 
It is a good idea to give your heifer a free choice of mineral. A trace mineral salt block can be given and both horses and cows can share.There are some blocks and minerals that are not to be shared by both.
Talk to your vet or the feed store people.
 
Don't waste your time with a trace mineral block. For a heifer running with a horse find a good mineral that supplies calcium and phosphorus (probably in a 2:1 to 3:1 ratio) that also has salt, trace minerals (copper, manganese, zinc, selenium) and Vitamins ADE. Copper should be around 1500 ppm, manganese and zinc should be 2-3000 ppm. Vitamins are often oversold but Vitamin A level of 100,000 IU/lb is sufficient but get Vitamin E in 100 IU/lb range. Selenium should be 26.4 ppm for a 4 oz mineral. Monitor to make sure they are eating it. Doesn't matter about the fortification if they don't eat it.
 
I suggested a trace block due to the fact I have been told numerous times to NOT feed a horse any mineral that is for cattle and vice versu. That is the only thing we give to both.
Like I said before talk to your vet and feed store people.
Read the label it would tell which animal it is for.
kyblockhead better to be safe then sorry later.
 
They both have a Salt Block now (the red one not the white one) neither of them lick it at all. I even got a molasses flavored one and they didnt like that either. Thanks for the help everyone!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top