Is a crushed mineral block okay?

[cfarmher]

Okay, I goofed and got a mineral block before I found out its better to have loose minerals.
Can I crush the mineral block and use it as if its loose minerals for the time being?
I hate to waste it. Next time I plan to get the loose, not sure what to ask for though. I dont know what minerals my feed mill sells. I'm sure they dont sell goat minerals, they dont sell any goat feed (I got the block at TS 1 1/2 hours away). What are my options? Cow minerals?

Thanks,
Crissei

[Sarah J]

Yes, you can crush the mineral block (I just did that for my bucks since my loose minerals I'd ordered hadn't arrived yet!). Double check and make sure that it has copper in it. If it's a sheep and goat block, it isn't good enough for goats - they HAVE to have copper, whereas the sheep can't. A bag of loose cattle minerals should do the trick. If you go to the Fias Co Farm website they have a section on minerals and a comparison chart for a couple of different brands, too. I normally use the Golden Blend from Hoegger's. I think it's $35 for a bucket? No shipping charges. The bucket lasts about four months here. Sometimes I have extra, but it isn't fresh after that and not as potent, so tends to get replaced anyway.

-Sarah

[gccrook]

My experience tells me that one is not better than the other. As long as it contains the right minerals, in approximately the right amounts, and the goats use it, it is fine. I actually have both a block and loose minerals, and some of my goats prefer one over the other. Either way, my goats get the minerals they need.

[marvella]

i always use a block too, and everyone is just fine. just get one with copper.

Originally Posted by gccrook

My experience tells me that one is not better than the other. As long as it contains the right minerals, in approximately the right amounts, and the goats use it, it is fine. I actually have both a block and loose minerals, and some of my goats prefer one over the other. Either way, my goats get the minerals they need.

[Sarah J]

The block can wear down their teeth more since they tend to bite it more often, rather than lick it. And they can't always get enough of it with the block to satisfy their actual mineral needs. Yes, they both contain the right minerals (if you get the right kind) but loose minerals will better ensure that they get as much as they need. That's why the loose is generally recommended over the block.

Sarah

[cfarmher]

[QUOTE=Sarah J Double check and make sure that it has copper in it. If it's a sheep and goat block, it isn't good enough for goats - they HAVE to have copper, whereas the sheep can't. -Sarah[/QUOTE]

Well, you might have just alerted me to another goof. I got the sheep and goat block. It does have copper in it, just not as much as the goat block. I read in 'Raising Goats the Modern Way' that they dont need the extra copper in their minerals if the are on a complete pellet feed. Is this wrong? I was hoping to just use this block as back-up minerals, since we plan on having sheep soon.

Back to square one

If goats are getting a complete feed on the milk stand do they need extra minerals?

[Sarah J]

Depends on the levels of copper included in the pelleted feed. I feed mine a whole grain ration with nothing else in it, so I guess I'm not sure what minerals are included in the pellets. Double check your copper levels in the pellets and calculate how much each doe is getting on the stand. Then you have to be sure that she actually *eats* it all, too.

But I would say yes, they need the extra minerals, as a general rule. Another option would be a copper bolus for the goats. Then you could keep the sheep minerals out and just give the extra copper to the goats and they could live in the same pen/pastures. I did that for a year before I fanced in the other section for the sheep. I actually have the block minerals for the sheep, but the dairy goats get the loose. My bad, I know, but finding loose sheep minerals around here is really more trouble than these particular sheep are worth!

-Sarah

[mygoat]

Actually, I found out that the level of salt is very important. I like the purina goat minerals which I have right now, but plan to switch to sweetlix goat mineral. They wont touch it if it has too much salt in it, like a block does or most of the other minerals out there. Mine eat the purina minerals like candy, wheras they NEVER EVER EVER touched the other minerals that was like 90% salt. The less salt, the better...

[Goat Freak]

You can used crushed, we use both as a matter of fact. Good Luck. Bye.