Giving Minerals and Supplements to Your Livestock

We all need salt and other minerals to stay healthy. That goes for our animals too. Fact is animals in the wild know how to find salt and other minerals. They’ll even imprint the location of that mineral into memory. Livestock don’t have that luxury, so it’s up to all of us to provide it for them.

To ensure your animals receive a balanced diet, nutrients from manufacturers such as Vitalix are pressed into tubs, formed into blocks, and available in bags. These include mineral tubs, mineral blocks, salt blocks, salt and mineral blocks, and salt rocks that can be mixed with feed. Tubs weigh anywhere from 15 to 200 pounds depending on the animal and application.

Feeding

An animal that receives all the necessary nutrients, including protein, is both happy and healthy. Adding salt to their diet can increase appetite, encouraging twice the weight gain as animals fed no sodium chloride. This weight gain can translate to better breeding and more profits overall.

Coastal tip: Minerals can be corrosive to metals, so be sure to keep yours in the provided plastic tub or move it to concrete, wood, or fiberglass.

Geography and Climate

Spring, summer, and winter come at different times depending on where you’re located in the Pacific Northwest. For example, as the green pastures of summer diminish, cattle and other livestock need extra nutrients to thrive. Additional nutrients may be needed if your region is known for extreme cold or wet winter conditions. Timing is everything depending on your livestock and their salt and other mineral needs.

Monitoring

It’s easy to understand why tub and block supplements are popular across the U.S. After all, they’re easy to store and transport. But monitoring how much of the minerals your livestock gets takes a little work. Luckily, it’s as easy as moving the mineral block or tub away from or closer to water sources or loafing areas.

When mineral intake is too high, move it away from water. When it’s too low, move it closer. The animals, whether they are goats, cows, sheep, or horses, will do the rest.

Coastal tip: For cattle, provide one mineral feeding station for every 30 to 50 cows. Livestock guides available on manufacturer products.

Your Feed Supplements are at Coastal

We carry both Purina and Vitalix tubs for cattle, equine, sheep and goats. Stop by your nearby Coastal Farm & Ranch and check out the full-line of supplements for your livestock. Have questions? Our experts will be happy to help.