Nutrition
with the same amount of Mg
as a 10 or 12 % Mg supplement
that is consumed at 2 oz. per
head per day – but it’ll do it
without limiting consumption
of other minerals that may
also be critically important
during that period of time.
Q: These cows are eating
too much mineral – can I
just cut it with white salt to
decrease consumption?
A: You can, but I highly
recommend that you don’t
unless you’re doing so under
the advice of your nutritionist,
or the label specifically states
to provide an additional
source of salt. Why not?
82 | JUNE/JULY 2018
Because cattle do adjust their
mineral consumption in order
to meet their demands for
certain minerals – at least to
a small degree. Now they
generally won’t self-regulate
when provided with a
“buffet” of individual mineral
ingredients. But when provided
as a complete free-choice
supplement, their intake
generally changes as demands
change (dry vs. lactating) and
as forages mature (growing
vs. dormant). However, cattle
will only consume a certain
amount of salt per day, which is
how the consumption of most
complete free-choice mineral
supplements is limited. When
we add salt to an already salt-
limited mineral supplement, we
do two things: 1) we limit the
animal’s ability to adjust their
consumption (within a small
range) to meet their needs, and
2) we change the formulation.
So, if that isn’t the best option,
what is? Moving the mineral
feeder. As simple as it sounds,
9 times out of 10, mineral
consumption can be adjusted
to the desired level by moving
the mineral feeder. If cattle are
over-consuming mineral, move
the feeder farther away from
areas where cattle are spending
a considerable amount of time,
such as waterers or feeding
locations. If cattle are under-
consuming mineral, move the
feeder closer to these areas. I