Where to Start on Minerals

[clarkmorefarm]

Hi all, trying to get some mineral out to my small herd.

I have ordered a small mineral feeder that has a partition in it.

Plan on putting salt on one side and a decent mineral on the other.

Any suggestions for the mineral? There might not be an easy one size fits all, but I want to be sure my 2 bred cows and 3 heifers have some available.

I considered the cafeteria styler mineral feeder, but I'm not ready to make that investment yet. I think I can get by with a decent mineral for the time being.

 

[4hfarms]

I use tubs from the feed store or co-op. Also wind and rain/igr when needed during warm season. Combination seems to do well. Went on individual mineral that was suggested for the area last fall, and the cows seem to not do as well. I'm back on tubs. You can also contact UT extension for input...

 

[Brute 23]

If I was in your shoes I would try to multimen them per the label and save all the money and hassle of loose mineral and feeders.

Talk to a vet in your area and see if that is an option.

 

[WFfarm]

If you have the salt and minerals separate, they may just eat the salt and ignore the minerals.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

If you have the salt and minerals separate, they may just eat the salt and ignore the minerals.

See, I've heard just the opposite of that from some folks. I'm sure it is a cow by cow/herd by herd basis.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

If I was in your shoes I would try to multimen them per the label and save all the money and hassle of loose mineral and feeders.

Talk to a vet in your area and see if that is an option.

Still early on in my cattle adventure, don't have the structures in place to work cattle yet. It is on the list, and should be around by spring, but will have to stick with loose mineral for now.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

I use tubs from the feed store or co-op. Also wind and rain/igr when needed during warm season. Combination seems to do well. Went on individual mineral that was suggested for the area last fall, and the cows seem to not do as well. I'm back on tubs. You can also contact UT extension for input...

I seem to always forget about contacting UT Extension. I'm in good contact with soil conservation, but haven't got ahold of our county extension office for UT yet.

 

[Warren Allison]

I seem to always forget about contacting UT Extension. I'm in good contact with soil conservation, but haven't got ahold of our county extension office for UT yet.

I always do a soil test for each place. It not only tells you how much N,P, and K you need, , but also tells you what minerals are below levels. You can add that to your fertilzer, and also get your mineral mix to feed based on it

 

[M.Magis]

Just to get them something to start, just grab a bag of good quality mineral at the local feed store. They can usually help by suggesting what cattlemen in your area prefer. Not only from a mineral recipe standpoint, but also palatability. I always found my cows liked the Wind and Rain line more than others. I've tried some cheaper minerals that sat untouched for months.

 

[Brute 23]

Still early on in my cattle adventure, don't have the structures in place to work cattle yet. It is on the list, and should be around by spring, but will have to stick with loose mineral for now.

There are threads on here about Vitaferm. You might see if it's available in your area.

If you are using the molasses tubs like mentioned already, they also have mineral.

Loose mineral is important but it's also and expensive experiment if they don't eat it or it gets ruined.

 

[TCRanch]

You can also contact UT extension for input...

This! Just because your neighbors use a certain mineral doesn't mean it'll be optimal for your place. Geography matters, even if it's literally just across the road. I'd suggest contacting your extension agent and they'll do a soil sample, figure out what minerals you may be lacking, what you really need.

That said, my cattle get only lose mineral and not a salt block. There should be enough salt in the mineral to satisfy them. And mineral with CTC about 4-6 weeks prior to heavy tick season (requires a VFD from your vet).

 

[rocfarm]

I keep a 30% cooked protein tub out after first frost and beg of spring green up. It has enough minerals mixed in for the cattle to do well.

After green up, I mix 50 lbs loose salt with 25lbs wind and rain. That mix actually hardens a bit after getting rained on so doesn't wash away as easily thereafter. And the cows get dome mineral every time they go for the salt.

The first mineral block I bought was never touched by the cattle in 6 months, so I won't do strait mineral or blocks.

 

[Ebenezer]

I always do a soil test for each place. It not only tells you how much N,P, and K you need, , but also tells you what minerals are below levels. You can add that to your fertilzer, and also get your mineral mix to feed based on it

Might know more with a forage sample

 

[anewcomer]

Agree with Ebenezer 100%. A forage tissue sample will tell you what is in the plant your cattle are eating, regardless of what your soil sample shows. Most minerals are unattractive to cattle by taste. Desire for salt is what makes intake of mineral reach desired levels. Do not offer salt as an alternative to minerals. You may use it to control consumption to recommended levels.

 

[Farmgirl]

I like the Purina wind and rain minerals. Tend to not harden up if it gets damp/wet.

 

[Lucky]

Don't over complicate this just go to the local TSC or feedstore and grab a bag of mineral. They'll eat it or they won't. It's $30 bucks. If you want to feed salt buy a $10 lick block and don't put near the mineral feeder.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

If you are new to cattle, familiarize yourself with grass tetany. It's not much of a problem this time of year. Under the right conditions in the spring, this can very quickly turn into your worst nightmare. Simple magnesium supplementation eliminates the problem. Selenium may be a problem where you are, it may not. As @Warren Allison suggested, get a soil test. Take the test to extension. They should be able to tell you based on the soil tests if you have any 'unique' deficiencies, and 'unique' deficiencies are common. I've got to find out were Maryville is. Protein will probably NOT be something you need to supplement, or only seasonally.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I just use Wind and Rain High Mag in flat sided buckets clipped to the fence. They also have selenium salt licks but don't pay much attention to them.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

So I went to the local Co-op and asked what options they have. After going through them with the guy at the counter, I decided to try the wind and rain with fly control, it is also hi-mag as that is the only combo they had. Figured high mag wouldn't hurt with all the recent rains we have had after an extremely dry summer.

Cows seems to like it and went right for it. I've read they don't love the taste of high mag. I might just feed this year-round, vs having to change minerals as it appears to cover most things I'm after.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

@clarkmorefarm, I'm glad you got the mineral. You still need a soil test on your farm and you need to talk to extension. The Co-op is better than your neighbor, but extension is unbiased and doesn't have an agenda.

Let me say something about LOCATION of the mineral in your pasture. You want to locate it well away from any shade and well away from your water source(s). Placing the mineral near either of these will result in luxury consumption. You will spend A LOT more than what you need to on the mineral and your cattle will be consuming much more than they require. Additionally, when these 3 components (mineral, water and shade) are all located in the same spot, a couple not-so-great things happen. First, your pasture does not get even utilization. It gets over used at the "resource" point and under used away from it. Additionally, because the livestock hang out at the resource point, all of the nutrients in the pasture get concentrated here from all the manure and urine. Keep the resources spread out which encourages even grazing throughout the pasture as well as even distribution of nutrients.