Minerals

McDaid36 · #1 09/17/11, 08:08 AM

Still working things out with our new (and first) cow here. I know they need minerals, and for now she's been getting the goat minerals. I went looking in TSC for cattle minerals, but they're all labeled "not for dairy." So I'm wondering, what do you use? It's hard to find items here for cattle, I am just outside of NYC and keeping a cow is never heard of. Even the TSC is an hour away. Thanks for any advice!

G. Seddon · #2 09/17/11, 09:17 AM

Any dairies nearby, maybe in Vermont? If so, call them and find out what they use. Or ask your vet what to use (you do have a vet, right?). Not sure about using goat minerals for a cow.

There used to be a mineral called Young's Brood Cow's Choice, but when I google it, nothing comes up. I'll keep looking and if I find it, I'll post again.

What kind of cow do you have?

chester5731 · #3 09/17/11, 10:56 AM

I am not sure of the brand but my Dad mail orders Kelp Meal. I give it to the horses and beef cows and it seems to work well. I don't feed as much as they recommend but the animals are alive and well. He gets it from www.welterseed.com

ramiller5675 · #4 09/17/11, 03:53 PM

I don't know anything about dairy cattle, but for our beef cattle it is always worth the money to buy quality minerals (within reason). Cheap minerals aren't always cheap in the long run.

I've fed Purina's Wind and Rain mineral in the past and the cattle always seemed to like it and it has a good mix of minerals. Looking at their webpage, they also sell some dairy cattle minerals:

http://dairy.purinamills.com/OurProd...s/default.aspx

You might be able to find a Purina dealer locally that can order you a bag or two.

mozarkian · #5 09/17/11, 06:07 PM

Here is a link to all Purina dealers in state of NY.

http://www.purinamills.com/DealerLoc...&SearchType=MR

allenslabs · #6 09/17/11, 10:20 PM

I feed that Wind and Rain and love the results. I feed it to the goats and cattle and all seem to do well on it. I never looked to see about labeling for dairy cattle. Wonder why they should eat it?!

tonyb · #7 09/18/11, 09:12 AM

Thanks for posting that link, chester5731. I went to our local feed store looking for kelp meal and he basically shut me down (as usual). Apparently I don't need it, "just throw a mineral block out there." So I've been looking for a place to buy online. Does your dad have it shipped or does he have to pick it up?

McDaid36 · #8 09/18/11, 09:22 AM

What is the recommended dosage for the kelp meal? I'm wondering how long the 50 lb. bag would last for 1 cow and 3 goats. Does it just get fed free choice? So the only other thing I would need to provide (supplement wise) would be a salt block?

Creamers · #9 09/18/11, 10:52 AM

Quote:

I'm wondering how long the 50 lb. bag would last for 1 cow and 3 goats

6 months, probably.

I use Oynx Right Now by Cargill - look on their site for local dealers

ozark_jewels · #10 09/18/11, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creamers

6 months, probably.

I use Oynx Right Now by Cargill - look on their site for local dealers

I use the Right Now Onyx also. Its a beef cattle mineral but I use it for our dairy cows, dairy goats, and horses. They've been getting it for 8 years now, only good results.

Most times if a mineral is actually labled "not for dairy" its got some form of medication in it.

If you get a loose mineral and you want to feed kelp too(just kelp won't supply the saalt they need), you can mix it at about 3/4 mineral to 1/4 kelp and feed it that way. Its what I do with my goats.

chester5731 · #11 09/19/11, 09:51 AM

Dad has the kelp meal shipped. If I remember right it is around $60.00 with shipping. I have four feeders and four horses and a bag will last a year or so. I just use a little scoop from kool-aid or something and sprikle some on top of their feed. I don't give them as much as the directions say. All of my animals seem to be doing well.

I also feed a little trace mineral salt.

sammyd · #12 09/19/11, 10:37 AM

we fed kelp like crazy to our milking herd. With 20 milkers a 50 lb bag would last maybe a week. We also fed Vigortone 6200 and had salt/mineral blocks out in the pastures.
Kelp is not a substitute for mineral. It has some good stuff but not all that is needed

ozark_jewels · #13 09/19/11, 12:49 PM

My feed store can order kelp in for about $40 per 50 lb bag.

goodhors · #14 09/22/11, 01:31 AM

Are there any local Dairy farms around your area? You might stop in and see where they get their minerals. Any grain elevators that farmers take their crops to? I got my cattle minerals from the elevator, who also mixes my grain for the horses and cattle.

In my area of Michigan, it is extremely important that we feed supplemental Selenium and Vit E to the horses. So obvously the cattle would need Selenium and Vitamins as well, though not exactly the same ones. I just asked for a bag of cow vitamins and minerals, and they gave it to me in my next grain order! They are Old Kent dealers, so I looked up the Old Kent site and found this about what I had used:

http://www.kentfeeds.com/products/da...y-Minerals.php

There are several other mineral choices under that choice, you can click on the analysis to get the details of each mix.

In our area there is no Selenium in the soil from glaciers millions of years ago, so we have to supplementally add it to livestock diets. Lack of Selenium and Vitamins can cause many problems from muscle soreness and reproductive problems in the horses, to muscle weakness, reproductive problems in cattle and sheep.

None of these animals will get SUFFICIENT Selenium and Vit E, from licking mineral blocks!!
We had issues with the horses, that blood testing said were from lack of Selenium. Had to give shots, horse levels were so low!! So we are now quite careful to make sure ALL the animals get enough in their diets. The Dexter heifer came with warts, not cycling regularly. Getting the Vitamins and minerals into her, made the warts slough off within a couple months and she was like clockwork on heat cycles by then too. She gained well, just looked a lot better, better hair coat, once her system had everything she needed.

I think my bag was 50#, but she only got 1/2 teaspoon of the Viamins and minerals in a handful of oats once a day. Too much in Vitamins can be as bad as too little, and she was pretty little, at 500# on the weight tape. That bag would last a long time with one bovine! She had free access to both white and mineral salt blocks. She licked them, but didn't go crazy over them, so I have to presume she got what she wanted, but just was not enough Selenium for her body without the extra serving I gave her.

There are other brands of Vitamins, so you have to read ALL the contents to make sure you get what you need. I am pretty sure that NY state is also Selenium poor, should be in your supplements. There is a contact button on the Old Kent site, perhaps there is a dealer in your area they can tell you about.

Other parts of the USA have other Vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses, you have to learn about your own locale to know what is needed for your cattle.

Quite amazing how just ONE mineral like Selenium can affect so many things in horses, cattle and sheep. Horses MUST have Vit E with their Selenium to absorb it, but cattle also need the Vit E and A and D to suit their requirements.

Good luck finding a source of Vitamins and Minerals in your area. We still have quite a few small Elevators locally, could be you do if you hunt for them. TSC is sure not the best place to get information, they are not all equal in helpful people! We have a terrific cow lady in our TSC, but the rest of the folks are totally cattle ignorant!!

mozarkian · #15 09/22/11, 10:47 AM

Question: This conversation about minerals has made me take a second look at the Super 10 that I am feeding (second link) from our local MFA. As my cows age (they are all 5 year olds now) I want to do whatever I can to reduce calving and general health problems, and keep them in top shape. I would rather try to prevent it than cure it later.

There is a more concentrated dry dairy cow mineral availlable (first link) with higher ratios -- would it be better to feed this year round instead of the more standard Super 10. Would this formula be at all harmful for the younger calves who come and go through the year?
(I currently have 2 dry cows who will calve in late Dec, 1 cow in late lactation milk, who will be dried off when the others come on line and 2 800 lb bulls, freezer bound very soon, and 10 younger calves, including my next years bull, ranging from 250 to 600 pounds, all together they go through about 75 lbs of this per month, free choice, with mag/salt mix fed free choice also in a separate feeder, more or less depending on how many calves are here and what size they are)
Any help with this is appreciated.

http://www.mfa-inc.com/Portals/0/Exp...%20Mineral.pdf

http://www.mfa-inc.com/Portals/0/Sup...%20Mineral.pdf

ozark_jewels · #16 09/25/11, 12:16 PM

mozarkian, frankly I don't like the teensy bit of copper thats in the dry dairy mineral at all. Missouri is certainly copper deficient and copper deficiency can lead to all sorts of reproductive issues.
Have you looked into the Right Now Onyx mineral?? Its a high-stress-time mineral for beef cows, that I feed to my dairy cows, calves, goats and horses year-round. Its got good copper and selenium levels. I've fed it for years with good results.
I doubt you are that far from me......Hirschs in Thayer and West Plains carries it, as does Richards Brothers in Mountain Grove, Mountain View, etc. Others as well, but those are the ones I'm aware of.

McDaid36 · #17 09/25/11, 05:00 PM

I found a place that grows and sells their own organic grains and sells their feeds with minerals mixed in. The company they use is called Fertrell and their website is http://www.fertrell.com

The grain company also can order any additional Fertrell products I might want. Glad to have found something!

mozarkian · #18 09/25/11, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

mozarkian, frankly I don't like the teensy bit of copper thats in the dry dairy mineral at all. Missouri is certainly copper deficient and copper deficiency can lead to all sorts of reproductive issues.
Have you looked into the Right Now Onyx mineral?? Its a high-stress-time mineral for beef cows, that I feed to my dairy cows, calves, goats and horses year-round. Its got good copper and selenium levels. I've fed it for years with good results.
I doubt you are that far from me......Hirschs in Thayer and West Plains carries it, as does Richards Brothers in Mountain Grove, Mountain View, etc. Others as well, but those are the ones I'm aware of.

I will check local feed stores for that brand, I only get to West Plains a couple times a year, but do go through Mt Grove when I go to Champion to buy calves, and certainly willing to switch to something better. Thank you for the info.