Anyone use Mag flakes in water troughs?

[cotswoldcs]

We have had some welcome rain today after a prolonged dry spell and as we suffer from Hypermagnesemia in our sheep flock I'm expecting problems any day now. We've been using mag flakes for a couple of seasons now with success but there are no guidelines for how much to add to water. I'm aware that adding too much will make the water bitter and reduce intake and this isn't their only source of mag as they have free-access minerals and mineral buckets as well. We have some outlying fields with no mains water so use bowsers and IBCs.

Does anyone know how much of a bag to add to 1,000l of water?

 

[deleted user 837354]

Free access minerals and buckets- save your money.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Free access minerals and buckets- save your money.

I reckon mag flakes used at correct rate daily would be cheaper than free acces minerals?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

As long as they have no alternative water it's largely academic. Allowing for dilution as the day goes on you need it pretty strong when you do it.....

 

[ajcc]

I put a bagful 25kg in a 5000 litre tank for cattle last year after a case....this year I’m putting 12.5 kg in 5000litre bowsers for cattle(economy drive only reasoning) Don’t bother with sheep water but 5kg in 1000litres be ok or 2.5kg?? If they drink tank in 3or 4 days they’re getting mg from it but if it takes 2 weeks need something different.... Dairy farmer who recommended to me just puts sack in big round concrete troughs with dozen knife stabs in bag.
Sorry not really very definitive!

 

[Werzle]

I put a bagful 25kg in a 5000 litre tank for cattle last year after a case....this year I’m putting 12.5 kg in 5000litre bowsers for cattle(economy drive only reasoning) Don’t bother with sheep water but 5kg in 1000litres be ok or 2.5kg?? If they drink tank in 3or 4 days they’re getting mg from it but if it takes 2 weeks need something different.... Dairy farmer who recommended to me just puts sack in big round concrete troughs with dozen knife stabs in bag.
Sorry not really very definitive!

Vet told me i could put the bag in a big tank with a few slits in it

 

[Ollie.mclean]

I started putting mag flakes in water this year as not all ewes seem to bother with blocks/licks. I read somewhere to add 30-60g per ewe per day I’ll find the link but have just been adding about 1-2kg per to 8ft trough each time it’s filled up from bowser. So far seems to be working, fingers crossed.

 

[Ollie.mclean]

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