Where to Start on Minerals

[simme]

Use the mineral location to manage consumption rate. Don't just put it where they don't consume it. Best mineral in the world don't do any good if they don't consume the proper amount, especially those with fly control in them. My wind and rain high mag with fly control is about 30 feet from the water. They don't over consume for me. Just be sure to check it and don't let it go empty.

 

[Warren Allison]

Might know more with a forage sample

Yes, they go hand in hand. You should do both test. The plant can't contain a mineral if it is lacking in the soil.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

@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.

Thanks for the tips. Mineral feeder is not in a loafing area. They have to make a point to go to it. I'm still working on my paddocks to rotate pasture, but the feeder will be moved when I move the cattle as well.

Same goes for the feed trough, it will move as well. I don't feed much, just enough to get the cows accustomed to me and to keep them "feed broke".

The water source is fence line Trutest waters. There is currently two in the paddock they are in, but each paddock has access to one on a fence row. The cows seem to be doing well on our city water here in Maryville

 

[Hippie Rancher]

I am a convert/evangelist for wind and rain. I can't believe what it has done for the cattle. expensive compared to salt, but man! I don't use feed-through fly products because it probably kills beneficial dung insects too.

 

[Dave]

I use the Wind and Rain minerals. Probably a hold over from living on the Washington coast where we got lots of rain. Many of the other cheaper minerals will set up like concrete when they get wet. The Wind and Rain doesn't do that.

Side note on keeping the minerals in a different portion of the pasture. There was an NRCS guy I knew who told people to put the salt or minerals in the far corner of the field to get complete use of the field. He would make a big point of that. Even to people who had a 2 acre field. Somehow I always figured a critter could find its way around a 2 acre field.

 

[Ebenezer]

Yes, they go hand in hand. You should do both test. The plant can't contain a mineral if it is lacking in the soil.

Not really. Some plant species are accumulators and can be high in nutrients that are low in the soil.