The interesting thing about salt is that cattle have a natural “urge” for it. This means that, unlike the other minerals, they will actually seek it out. If they cannot find it they will try to ingest it from other sources, such as tree bark, dirt, and even urine.
As mentioned earlier salt is very important to the overall function of a cow. Along with aiding with milk production, it will assist with other functions. These functions are things like reproduction, blood flow, and even sweating (which I think should be obvious).
Is salt necessary for cows?
With the few lines that I have mentioned above the answer to that question is Yes! Salt is a very important nutrient needed for the general functioning of cattle.
Salt is a necessary mineral for cows and is one that they need to consume daily. Now, this does not mean that you will have to force-feed this to your cattle. They are able to derive salt naturally from things like the forages that they consume in the pasture. In fact, depending on where your ranch is located they can even get sodium from the water they drink.
Since they will need to consume it on a daily basis it is a good idea for you to monitor the amount they are taking in to ensure they are getting enough. A deficiency in this can lead to things like a loss of appetite which in turn will lead to things like weight loss and decreased production.
And salt does not just help out the individual cow in particular. As I mentioned earlier it also helps with milk production thus helping their calf. The sodium found in salt helps with the absorption of calcium.
The fact that they will seek it out can be very helpful to you as well. You can use it as a top dressing or in a mixture to get them to consume other minerals that they need. Also, you can use it as a way of getting them to parts of the pasture they do not normally go to. This will help get a more even grazing coverage of your pastures.
What are their requirements?
The amount of salt that your cows will need to consume will depend on their age and their stage of production. For example, a dry mature cow will not need as much as one that is in the early lactation stage.
But how much do they need? Well, research done by the University of Missouri says that the maximum level advisable is 0.08% of the dry matter intake for dry cows and 0.1% for lactating cows.
A general rule of thumb is that cattle will need to consume 0.005% to 0.01% of their body weight as salt daily. For a 1,200-lb cow that would mean she needs to eat between 0.06 to 0.12lbs daily.
| Body Weight lb | Salt Consumption lb/day | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| low | average | high | |
| 300 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 500 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 700 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| 900 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| 1100 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| 1300 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| 1500 | 1.0 | 1.4 | .6 |
The type of feed that cows are consuming can also affect the amount of salt they will eat. Cows tend to eat more salt with a high-forage diet vs a high-concentrate one.
It is also worth noting that they will also consume more when the grass is “green and succulent” vs ones that are in the mature stage of growth. This is due to there being less salt available in the younger forages.
Why do I need to supplement salt?
The short answer to this question is that forages alone will not generally provide all of the salt that your cows will need to consume. The amount they can get from forages will depend on the part of the country they are in, what the topography is, and even what kind of fertilizer they use.
Many grass species that can be found in the pasture will only provide 1/2 to 1/6 of the required nutrient amount. This is another example of why it is a good idea for you to have your forages tested. It is so you can know what nutrients they will provide and which you will need to supplement.
Another factor that you will need to consider is what other minerals are present in your grasses. Minerals like potassium can inhibit the absorption of salt. It is important for you to find the right balance between minerals for your cows to reach optimal performance.
Speaking of mineral balance, the salt-potassium balance in your cows is related to their absorption of Magnesium. This is why in the early spring it is possible for your cows to get grass tetany. It is during this time that potassium is high in forages while at the same time, salt is low.
Yet another reason that you will need to supplement salt is that mixing salt with other mineral supplements will make them more palatable for your cows. Going back to tetany, things like Magnesium oxide alone are unpalatable so you need to mix it with salt in order for the cattle to eat it.
A word of caution with supplementing salt for your cows is that you will need to somewhat keep an eye on their consumption rates. While it is rare for salt toxicity to occur it is possible.
Types of salt supplements for cows
When it comes to providing salt supplements for your cows they typically come in 2 forms: loose and block. While one may not be superior to the other it depends entirely on your particular situation and needs.
One drawback to using the loose mineral is that cows tend to consume more of it while it is in this form. This is because they do not have to work as hard to get it vs with a block. Another thing to remember is that with loose consumption can be a little sporadic. Cows can go for days without eating and then suddenly will gorge themselves.
If you do go with the loose salt supplement one option that you can go with is to pour it over the ration that you will be putting out for them. This can help with the consumption of the ration and control the amount of salt that they are eating.
With blocks there are a few options that you can choose from:
White Salt Blocks
- This one contains just regular table salt nothing more
- Since it provides no other nutritional value this one is not really recommended
- The only use that this one has is using it to draw cattle into underutilized areas of the pasture
Yellow Salt Blocks
- Along with salt, this one contains sulfur as well
- Developed for use in southern US pastures that have a problem with insects and ticks
Brown or Trace Mineral Salt Blocks
- Contains cobalt, iodine, iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and manganese
- This is a good all-around salt block to use
- Producers in the Western ranges should use this one
If you are looking to learn more about the pros and cons of the different types of blocks out there I discuss that in a previous article ” Which color salt block is best?”.
If you are going to be feeding it in either loose or block form it is best to place them near a water source. With the increase taken in they will need to drink more water to help prevent toxicity.