Mineral supplementation is an essential component of any successful cattle operation. Minerals are the building blocks for growth, reproduction, and basic maintenance. It is important that your cattle get all of the minerals that their bodies need.
The problem is that your forages will only provide some of the nutrients that they need by themselves. No matter where you are located, something will always be lacking. This reason is why providing a year-round mineral supplement is mandatory.
However, deciding what type of mineral you need to provide can be a bit confusing if you do not know what to look for at the feed store. There are many different choices you can go with. There are some that may work, but some are just a rip-off. A producer needs to know what to look for before they make any purchases. Here are some things to consider when making that decision:
Are you wasting the mineral?
A producer’s mineral program is often a severely underestimated or underappreciated part of their operation. This is usually the case in a free-choice scenario. Often, it is just put out, and they don’t pay it any more attention.
Poor management in this area can lead to a compromised mineral program. This compromise will cause improper intake, excess waste, and increased cost, and also could include poor cattle performance. All in all, a compromised program will be just a waste of money.
You could be losing money if you are not providing the right kind of mineral supplementation or not in the right amounts. Knowing what minerals your forages are providing is essential. As with any kind of supplementation, the key is to only “fill in the gaps.”
Since we are dealing with different types of forages in different soil types, you can’t find a one-size-fits-all solution here. Even in the same environments, things such as rainfall, grazing patterns, and fertilization can also affect mineral output. Because you are dealing with many different environmental factors, you won’t be able to provide all needed nutrients naturally.
Now, here is where we get to improving your program
Strategy #1: Keep it simple
There are various mineral formulations out there. Customization may be nice, but it is usually not necessary in many cases. It is not cost-effective and completely unnecessary nine out of ten times.
If it is adequately fed, a well-balanced supplement that uses quality ingredients will do what you want. The key is whether it will fill in the gaps of what you need. A higher percentage may be completely unnecessary. Many times, all the talk of percentages is just a sales pitch to get you to buy something that you do not need.
Now, you may be asking, “What percentage should I be looking for?” Though it is different for different regions, L.W. Greene with the Texas A&M University system recommends 12 to 16% Ca, 4 to 8% P, and 2 to 4% Mg as a base supplement for warm-season forages.
The thing that you want to do is look at what it is that you need and then make your purchase based on that.
Strategy #2: Follow the directions on the tag
You could have the best product in the world, but if you do not have the right amount, then it does you no good. You should have the right amount for the number of animals that you have.
Just like figuring out the amount of bunk space, the number of mineral stations will affect how well the cattle consume it. If you have too few, only some animals will be able to consume the amount they need, and you will also waste a lot of it. You should read the feed tag and see the recommended amount for each unit.
The location of the mineral is also as important. Placing it near water or loafing areas will encourage consumption since they are already there. Moving it away from the areas will also reduce intake.
Once the cattle are used to the tubs, you can move them to other locations to promote better grazing distribution. I discussed this in more detail in a previous post, “Better grazing with supplements.”
Strategy #3: How does the mineral taste?
A mineral does no good if people do not eat it. The palatability of the mineral is as important as the nutrients that it provides. Often, the mineral itself is not very palatable, so it is often mixed with salt.
Self-fed tubs have been increasing in popularity due in part to their palatability. Molasses is sometimes used with the mix to draw the cattle in to consume it, and it has other benefits.
Due to their size, a larger percentage of the herd can consume them. This allows even the timidest to eat and provides a predictable intake.
Strategy #4: Watch the salt
Though salt is technically a mineral and a required nutrient, it is not a mineral program in itself. Trace minerals are not a complete program either since they are usually 90% salt.
Some minerals come with salt, and some don’t, so it is a good idea to read the tag (as mentioned above) to see what you are working with. If it does not come with salt, a general rule of thumb is to mix salt with loose minerals in a 1:1 ratio to get the best results. If you want to reduce intake, then you may want to go with a higher amount of salt. This will help regulate intake.
To know the amount of salt that needs to be added, you should understand how much of the total is being taken in. This knowledge is to make sure that you are not diluting your program by half.
You should provide free-choice salt along with a tub or barrel if you plan to use one. Just be sure to do just what is necessary.
A good mineral program can provide many benefits to your operation. It can improve weaning weights and increase your cows’ pregnancy rates. But like most things, it is best to consider management as well as consumption before analyzing it.
When planning out your mineral program, it is best to remember the acronym KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid.
