Mineral Supplementation Facts

November, 2020
 Lindsey Wiggins, UF/IFAS Extension Multi-County

According to University of Florida, Animal Science Chair, Dr. John Arthington, “the minerals that are most commonly found to be deficient in Florida forages include copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt, and sometimes phosphorus. If left unaddressed, deficiencies in these minerals can result in decreased growth of calves, decreased pregnancy rates, and an increase in health related problems. Mineral deficiency of forage is most often addressed by providing the cowherd free-choice access to a salt-based mineral supplement.”

  1. Mineral must be provided year round.

    1. Loose mineral (the kind in the bag) fed free-choice, is the most effective option for cattle VS. trace mineral blocks, which may prohibit the animal from consuming the appropriate amount each day.  Consider the tool they have to get the product in their bodies – the tongue!  Make use of that tongue in the most efficient way by putting more product on it each time it is exposed to mineral.  Think of how much time it takes to lick 3.5 oz off a block (you know you have done it, at least once!) – that is a serving of beef! 

  2. Cattle only have the nutritional wisdom to seek salt.  They never go to the mineral box looking for necessities; such as cobalt or selenium!  They “taste” salt very well and it can actually be used to limit the intake of many feeds; including mineral (see #4).  Look for products containing 20-25% salt.

  3. Read the label/tag on the bag of mineral you purchase. 

    1. As a general rule of thumb, the bag you purchase at the feed store will have a recommended intake of about 3.5oz per head, per day.  That means she will eat around 80 pounds each year – a little less than 2 bags.

    2. Look for products that have a 2:1 Calcium to Phosphorus ratio.

  4. Cattle may consume more than 3-4 oz for a few reasons.

  1. They have been without mineral for a period of time and will have to get acclimated, which will take about 1 week.

  2. It is summer - water consumption goes up and so does their requirement for salt.

  1. If you would like to learn more about how you can use loose, stock salt to adjust the herd’s mineral consumption, please contact your county extension agent.

  1. More is not better in this case.  Excess consumed mineral is not stored in the body, it is excreted in urine and manure and makes for costly excrements, hence the importance of monitoring and achieving intake goals.

  1. Cattle may consume less than 3-4 oz for a few reasons.

  1. Mineral boxes or troughs are not strategically placed in your pasture OR there aren’t enough troughs/boxes to accommodate the number of cattle in the pasture. Distribute mineral throughout the pasture, along commonly used trails between the grass patch and water.

  2. The water you provide the cattle may have a high salt content.  If you suspect this could be the problem, I can assist you with a water sample to assess the level of salt in your cows' drinking water.

  1. Provide one mineral feeder for every 20 – 30 cows.  This will enable the “boss” cattle and the timid cattle adequate time at the feeder.

  2. Monitor mineral boxes weekly.

  3. If you supplement cattle with cubes, fortified molasses, mixed feeds, or protein blocks during the winter consider that most commercially formulated products meet the animals’ mineral requirements and won’t need free-choice minerals while consuming the suggested quantities of those supplements. 

  4. Consider liver biopsies to analyze your herd for deficiencies and adjust your mineral ration.

 

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