Minerals for Dairy Cows

[macly]

Hi all,

We're in the process of purchasing our first Jersey cow and I'm wondering if you could all share your choice of mineral. I'm doing research but I always enjoy first hand reviews. We have sheep and dairy goats already. We use Fertrell graziers choice/Redmond Salt for the sheep and Replamin Plus for the goats.

Thanks so much for the advice!
Meredith

[sammyd]

a 2:1 mineral plus salt both loose and fed on top of or mixed in their grain. Plain old Fleet Farm stuff works just as good as any other.

[Judy in IN]

Redmond conditioner, Selenium 90, and kelp.

[jwal10]

Salt, ground limestone and steamed bonemeal. This is all my Grandad, Dad and I ever used. Mixed a little different for each type farm animal. All the feed fed on the farm was raised there. Silage corn, sweet corn residue left after harvest, alfalfa, grass and clover hays and oats and barley, ground in a hammermill and mixed as needed....James


http://library.ndsu.edu/tools/dspace...PDF?sequence=1

[Judy in IN]

James,
Steamed bonemeal? Is that from the bones of the animals you raise, or are you buying it?

Mad Cow has come along since your Grand Daddy's day. The last cow I heard about was in Washington state.

I'm fearless, but I don't even use bonemeal on my flowers anymore.

[jwal10]

I buy it at my feed store. Doesn't bother me at all. I feed it to all my animals and use it in my garden and flower beds....James

[Miss Kay]

If you want to take the risk with your family that's one thing but don't risk your customers health with bone meal fed beef or milk.

[southerngurl]

It's illegal to feed ruminant products to ruminants, period.

[kickinbull]

Originally Posted by sammyd

a 2:1 mineral plus salt both loose and fed on top of or mixed in their grain. Plain old Fleet Farm stuff works just as good as any other.

It is usually a lot cheaper, because it has a larger percentage of salt as a filler.

[kickinbull]

Originally Posted by macly

Hi all,

We're in the process of purchasing our first Jersey cow and I'm wondering if you could all share your choice of mineral. I'm doing research but I always enjoy first hand reviews. We have sheep and dairy goats already. We use Fertrell graziers choice/Redmond Salt for the sheep and Replamin Plus for the goats.

Thanks so much for the advice!
Meredith

If you are already using their mineral, and have a good relationship with supplier, I'd say best to stick with what you are doing.

[kickinbull]

Recently I found that Cargil(flame on) has a 4 part mineral program specific for the area. After reading the label, it appears to be very good. It was light in calcium for milking cows, 1 to 1, ok if feeding alfalfa hay.

[bknthesdle]

We feed free choice mineral KD 8.2. Hubby swears it makes a huge difference in the cows.