Natural rock salt

[Bogeyman]

Have been leaving out rock salt for the cows. They’re going through it quicker than I expected is there a deficiency or is it just the novelty value .

 

[davidroberts30]

Have been leaving out rock salt for the cows. They’re going through it quicker than I expected is there a deficiency or is it just the novelty value .

bit of everything id expect i put 4 half barrels out here about 4 weeks ago and id say there's about 2.5 of them gone already with 100 beasts
but they arnt licking pee off the floor or sucking each other etc

 

[Wee Willy]

Have been leaving out rock salt for the cows. They’re going through it quicker than I expected is there a deficiency or is it just the novelty value .

What's the point to it? Is there more milk? Are cows looking different? Not getting at you as everybody is doing it but if they're fine without it why spend extra? A bit like giving cows a warm energy drink after calving. Thought up by some marketing firm and now everyone does it. I don't and cows are fine.

 

[ollie989898]

I think cows genuinely like the taste of salt. I think it encourages water intake, I don't remember the biology but there is no harm in providing it. Fair bit of sodium in milk going out of their bodies every day.

 

[4course]

I think cows genuinely like the taste of salt. I think it encourages water intake, I don't remember the biology but there is no harm in providing it. Fair bit of sodium in milk going out of their bodies every day.

slight thread drift here . just had some soil tests back and on grazing and cutting ley/pp are showing very low sodium levels which need sorting . question is how ? and how much £. Im told it will increase intake /growth and quality of fodder conserved

 

[davidroberts30]

I think cows genuinely like the taste of salt. I think it encourages water intake, I don't remember the biology but there is no harm in providing it. Fair bit of sodium in milk going out of their bodies every day.

It's like you putting salt on your chips, your veg ,your lunch etc
Helps then produce saliva which is a natural rumen buffer

 

[ollie989898]

slight thread drift here . just had some soil tests back and on grazing and cutting ley/pp are showing very low sodium levels which need sorting . question is how ? and how much £

You can't 'sort' the sodium levels in soil. Well, you can, if you accidentally flooded the field with sea water. It completely fudges the soil chemistry out of the window for a very long time and it isn't easy to correct.

Cheaper to put the salt in front of the cows and let them consume it to their hearts content.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

What's the point to it? Is there more milk? Are cows looking different? Not getting at you as everybody is doing it but if they're fine without it why spend extra? A bit like giving cows a warm energy drink after calving. Thought up by some marketing firm and now everyone does it. I don't and cows are fine.

well, if I have had to assist a calving the only warm drink is for me after I go in the house!

 

[Will Blackburn]

slight thread drift here . just had some soil tests back and on grazing and cutting ley/pp are showing very low sodium levels which need sorting . question is how ? and how much £. Im told it will increase intake /growth and quality of fodder conserved

That's a pretty standard result, we feed salt in the yard, we've spread salt on the fields over 35 years ago, only did it once.

 

[ollie989898]

That's a pretty standard result, we feed salt in the yard, we've spread salt on the fields over 35 years ago, only did it once.

You can spread salt on pasture if you want. Won't make a jot of difference to plant growth (only a few plant species need sodium for growth- beet is one of them)- allegedly makes grass more palatable but I'm sceptical.

 

[rusty]

We swap from Urea to Origin Sweet grass fertilizer which has 5% salt in it mid season. They appear to eat the paddocks out better when we swap over.

 

[4course]

You can spread salt on pasture if you want. Won't make a jot of difference to plant growth (only a few plant species need sodium for growth- beet is one of them)- allegedly makes grass more palatable but I'm sceptical.

On our soil report re sodium levels on certain both grazing and conservation the analyst s report says low sodium levels are---
A priority for livestock health.
Which to me means ive got a problem as to not act upon advice would be tatamount to a failure on my part so reckon I need to research further as some folk say its of benefit others that it doesnt matter and others suggest suplementary availability licks etc but it could well be muck and mystery . However ,from the bits ive found out seem to show an increase in palatability and consumption which you would think would help increase growth rates or production . I ve not ever been aware of this low sodium before so a bit of a learning curve methinks .

 

[ollie989898]

On our soil report re sodium levels on certain both grazing and conservation the analyst s report says low sodium levels are---
A priority for livestock health.
Which to me means ive got a problem as to not act upon advice would be tatamount to a failure on my part so reckon I need to research further as some folk say its of benefit others that it doesnt matter and others suggest suplementary availability licks etc but it could well be muck and mystery . However ,from the bits ive found out seem to show an increase in palatability and consumption which you would think would help increase growth rates or production . I ve not ever been aware of this low sodium before so a bit of a learning curve methinks .

Priority for livestock health my chuff.

It's low sodium. It's not new or unheard of. There is no practical way of correcting it. If you think stock are low in sodium: feed them salt.

'Priority for livestock health' yes, that is standardised garb from Yara designed to make you spend money. Believe me, I used to get the same reports, having sent or recieved hundreds or thousands of broad spectrum test results. Save your money and brain power for something worthwhile.

Pay for your vet to take a load of bloods and tell you if your stock are low in sodium if you are that concerned.

 

[In the pit]

We swap from Urea to Origin Sweet grass fertilizer which has 5% salt in it mid season. They appear to eat the paddocks out better when we swap over.

Grass is just dryer that’s why they eat it better

 

[crashbox]

What's the point to it? Is there more milk? Are cows looking different? Not getting at you as everybody is doing it but if they're fine without it why spend extra? A bit like giving cows a warm energy drink after calving. Thought up by some marketing firm and now everyone does it. I don't and cows are fine.

Helps prevent acidosis, required for the bicarb in their saliva which buffers the rumen, esp. important in high maize diets as starchy and sodium deficient forage.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Cows just have at it. Our old herd would have a kilo a day if you let them

 

[devonbeef]

Helps prevent acidosis, required for the bicarb in their saliva which buffers the rumen, esp. important in high maize diets as starchy and sodium deficient forage.

great for freshly weaned calves and trying to get them used to a silage based diet. stops gut problems with rumen in balances i know if i stop feeding it , get bloaters straight away

 

[crashbox]

great for freshly weaned calves and trying to get them used to a silage based diet. stops gut problems with rumen in balances i know if i stop feeding it , get bloaters straight away

Great idea, I'll try it!

 

[Pistonbroke]

You can spread salt on pasture if you want. Won't make a jot of difference to plant growth (only a few plant species need sodium for growth- beet is one of them)- allegedly makes grass more palatable but I'm sceptical.

My cousin has taken on a tenancy and the sheep were grazing the the hedges and ditches, leaving the grass growing and getting away from them. He spread salt on the whole place and they graze everything. Does it every year now I think and the place has been transformed. Always greener because they're taking it all off instead of being picky. Bit like mowing the lawn to get it to tiller out I suppose

 

[Agrifool]

Sodium helps with the absorbstion and transportation of other minerals around the cows body, essentially getting better value from your minerals