The problem with this is that your forages will not provide all of the nutrients that they will need by themselves. No matter where you are located there will always be something that is lacking, This is where providing a 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 to go with, some may work but some are just a rip-off. It is essential for a producer 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 severely underestimated or just an underappreciated part of their operation. This is usually the case in a free-choice scenario. Often times it is just put out and they don’t pay it anymore mind.
Poor management of your mineral can lead to a compromised mineral program. This would cause improper intake, excess waste, increased cost, and also could include poor cattle performance. All in all a compromised program will be just a waste of money.
If you are not providing the right kind of mineral supplementation or not in the right amounts you could be losing money. This is where knowing what kinds of minerals your forages are providing is important. As with providing 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 really can’t find a one-size-fits-all type of solution here. Even with the same types of 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
1.) Keep it simple
There are various formulations of minerals out there. Now customization may be nice it usually is not necessary in many cases. It is not cost-effective and completely unnecessary 9 times out of 10.
A well-balanced supplement that uses quality ingredients will do what you want if it is fed properly. The key to look at is if 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 a 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 then make your purchase based on that.
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 that you have will affect how well the cattle are consuming it. If you have too few then not every animal will be able to consume the amount they need. You will also waste a lot of it if you have too much. You should read the feed tag and see the amount that is recommended 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 in order to promote better grazing distribution. I went into more detail about this in a previous post “better grazing with supplements”.
3.) How does the mineral taste?
A mineral does you no good if they are not eating it. The palatability of the mineral is as important as the nutrients that it provides. Often times the mineral itself is not really that palatable so that is why it is often mixed with salt.
Self-fed tubs have been increasing in popularity due in part to their palatability. They sometimes use molasses with the mix in order to draw the cattle in to consume it. It also has other benefits as well.
Due to their size a larger percentage of the herd can consume them. This allows even the timidest a chance to eat and which provides a predictable intake.
4.) Watch the salt
Though salt is technically a mineral and it is a required nutrient it is not a mineral program in of itself. Trace minerals is not a complete program either since it is usually 90% salt.
Some minerals do 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 it a general rule of thumb is to mix salt with loose minerals in a 1:1 ratio to get the best results. If you are wanting to reduce intake then you may want to go with a higher amount of salt. This will help in order to regulate intake.
To know the amount of salt that needs to be added, you should know how much of the total is being taken in. This 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 not to overdo it.
A good mineral program can provide many benefits to your operation. It can improve weaning weights as well as increase the pregnancy rates of your cows. But like most things, it is best not to overanalyze it without first taking into account management as well as consumption.
When planning out your mineral program it is best to remember the acronym KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid.