Managing mineral intake for livestock
Saskatchewan Agriculture
Mineral requirements are based on the type, weight, age and rate of performance of the animal. Deficiencies and/or toxicities can result in decreased performance and health which results in economic losses. Livestock do not have “nutritional wisdom” in that they do not consume minerals to the amount required. Providing loose minerals, free choice, to livestock on pasture is one of the more common delivery methods for mineral supplementation. Individual animals are free to consume as little or as much mineral as they choose. Monitoring the herd average mineral intake is a limitation of this type of mineral supplementation but there are a few practices that can help ensure adequate intakes are met.
When mineral consumption is excessive, the initial strategy to lower intake is to move the mineral feeder further from the water source, if intake is too low, move it closer. If the desired results are not achieved through geographic placement, the next step to encourage intake, is to blend in loose salt. This is most effective when the mineral supplement is salt free or contains very low levels of sal, and the water is low in salt content. Mixing up one week worth of mineral with 25 per cent salt can be a good starting place to enhance mineral intake. If mineral intake is still low, increase to 33 per cent salt the next week. If intake drops lower, then this indicates the livestock are obtaining salt from somewhere other than the mineral supplement –the water they are drinking may contain sodium chloride, sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate. The forage they are eating may contain various forms of salt or they may be licking a nearby salt flat. If this is the reality, then encouraging free choice mineral consumption can be difficult. Instead of mixing the mineral with salt, the mineral will need to be mixed with a flavoring agent such as dried molasses. Start with two or three days’ worth of mineral and blend with ten per cent dried molasses by weight. Increase the molasses content by ten per cent each time fresh mineral is provided until desired mineral intake is achieved.
For example, if the label indicates 100 gg of mineral each, then the target mineral intake for 100 cows for three days is 100 cows X 100 gg X three days = 30 kgs of loose mineral product. Blending 3 kgs of dried molasses into the 30 kgs of mineral would be the starting point. If after three days, there is still a significant amount of mineral remaining, you may blend additional dried molasses into the remaining mineral or mix a fresh batch of 30 kg mineral with 6 kgs of dried molasses.
For more information contact your local livestock and feed extension specialist or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.