Cattle minerals

[j6891]

What's the cheapest/best form of minerals. Been using all trace boluses last couple of years but it's quite a job getting them down the beats throat. Even with a headscoop there is a lot of flailing about. At least with bucket licks I used before I don't risk getting knocked out.

 

[Fergieman]

In feed minerals the cheapest form compared to free access or buckets but depends if your feeding them!

 

[JSmith]

What cattle is it for, stores or cows or ??

 

[j6891]

Mainly for cows. Don't feed any concentrates just silage and hay

 

[som farmer]

mineral licks NOT containing salt, cattle want/need salt, so they get through them quicker, if no salt, or molasses cattle will only take what they need, cheaper to provide salt, as rocksalt, separately.

 

[j6891]

mineral licks NOT containing salt, cattle want/need salt, so they get through them quicker, if no salt, or molasses cattle will only take what they need, cheaper to provide salt, as rocksalt, separately.

That's makes sense as I also think cattle lick buckets etc for something to do when housed. Recommendations for products if you have any you use?

 

[JSmith]

I use crystalix high mag for cows all year round, 80kg tubs, don’t find they eat them excessively, in fact you can tell at different times of the year when they want/need them they get through them quicker!!

 

[Blaithin]

mineral licks NOT containing salt, cattle want/need salt, so they get through them quicker, if no salt, or molasses cattle will only take what they need, cheaper to provide salt, as rocksalt, separately.

That’s like the exact opposite of any nutritionist advice normally given.

Cattle do not tend to know their required intake and there are minerals they need that they will avoid due to taste. Most pre mixes will have salt or molasses added to ensure the cattle are actually consuming what they need. If the minerals are just straight minerals you’re liable to run into deficiency issues from the animals not consuming enough.

Yes provide salt separately so the mixed mineral stuff isn’t the only salt available, but definitely have minerals mixed with salt or molasses to cover up taste and encourage proper intake.

 

[Treg]

What's the cheapest/best form of minerals. Been using all trace boluses last couple of years but it's quite a job getting them down the beats throat. Even with a headscoop there is a lot of flailing about. At least with bucket licks I used before I don't risk getting knocked out.

Lots of cheap to purchase minerals about but do they do what they say?
Don't go cheap buy decent loose minerals and sprinkle on your silage, a lot cheaper than buckets.

 

[Dave6170]

Anyone used this?

. Friend used it last year and will be using it again he says

 

[som farmer]

we dose our cows at drying off with 2 boluses, and pour iodine, diluted, down their backs, y/s are either bolused or drenched, at stategic times, turnout/in before serving etc. Rock salt is available, and suitable licks are put out. Cows in the pre calving ration, have a suitable mineral, in feed. Not saying we are right or wrong, but our fertility is fantastic, in cows and hfrs, that is enough to offer 'no change'. Iodine, especially if feeding kale, is critical.

 

[Newguy]

Anyone used this?

. Friend used it last year and will be using it again he says

I used it on calves that were too young to bolus before turnout. It meant that I didn't take them back in to bolus like I normally would. Their coats visually didn't show copper deficiency in late summer. Outwith that it is hard to assess its success. The downside is that it doesn't cover as many minerals as a bolus nevermind bagged minerals. Also, they strongly advice that you don't use it in conjuction with a bolus.

Price wise, if you have big cows then it would be as or more expensive than a bolus which theoretically can cover them for 6 months. But for young calves it was cheaper than the smart trace calf bolus that the older calves got.

It was also used as a magic elixir* on the odd cow that went off their feed post calving. Technically it worked, but I doubt it played any part.

*please use minerals responsibly

 

[livestock 1]

we dose our cows at drying off with 2 boluses, and pour iodine, diluted, down their backs, y/s are either bolused or drenched, at stategic times, turnout/in before serving etc. Rock salt is available, and suitable licks are put out. Cows in the pre calving ration, have a suitable mineral, in feed. Not saying we are right or wrong, but our fertility is fantastic, in cows and hfrs, that is enough to offer 'no change'. Iodine, especially if feeding kale, is critical.

What dilution of iodine do you put on cows backs and how much if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Timbo]

What dilution of iodine do you put on cows backs and how much if you don’t mind me asking?

10% neat straight from the can and 30-50ml along the back. You could dilute it 50% and put 60-100ml on .

 

[livestock 1]

10% neat straight from the can and 30-50ml along the back. You could dilute it 50% and put 60-100ml on .

I didn’t like to say but I’ve been pouring 30ml neat 10% on cows backs started to wonder if it was right. Vet did advise this but when I read diluted.....
Thanks

 

[Timbo]

I didn’t like to say but I’ve been pouring 30ml neat 10% on cows backs started to wonder if it was right. Vet did advise this but when I read diluted.....
Thanks

Some blood testing showed a couple of animals with border line iodine levels, and we suspected we had the odd dopey calf (as much as big sim calves can be lively), but since using iodine we have definitely seen an improvement of ease of calving, calf vitality at birth, and little or no post calving issues and general cow health.

 

[JSmith]

How long before calving are you doing the iodine?? Don’t generally have a problem with grazing kale but maybe it’s something I should do precautionary!! Got some heifers on it, thinking about doing them maybe! They’ve got crystalix high mag all the time as has everything else

 

[Timbo]

How long before calving are you doing the iodine?? Don’t generally have a problem with grazing kale but maybe it’s something I should do precautionary!! Got some heifers on it, thinking about doing them maybe! They’ve got crystalix high mag all the time as has everything else

4 - 6 weeks before.

 

[livestock 1]

Some blood testing showed a couple of animals with border line iodine levels, and we suspected we had the odd dopey calf (as much as big sim calves can be lively), but since using iodine we have
definitely seen an improvement of ease of calving, calf vitality at birth, and little or no post calving issues and general cow health.

My symptoms were cows not taking calves and a few dopey calves. Didn’t test just took vets advice with pouring iodine on cows backs then bolus.
Problem sorted

 

[som farmer]

What dilution of iodine do you put on cows backs and how much if you don’t mind me asking?

diluted 20-1, 30/40 ml, did hear neat could burn them. At drying off, and again when brought in on pre-calving ration.
Actually had forgotten about iodine, not feeding dry/ic cattle on kale for years, learn't the hard way, soon as somebody mention iodine, the air turned blue, my fault entirely, blame old age, but caused us serious serious hassle, and weaker calves are more prone to catch something else ! Very quick reaction to it, week, and noticeable improvement.
As a piece of useless info, up to late 90's, the guv kept huge supplies of iodine tablets, in case of nuclear war, it's very easily and quickly absorbed, whether it would work, different matter, but better than putting your face down between your knees, and hissing your arse goodbye.¬