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Mineral question

S

Shelly

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
1,634
Location
Saskatchewan
Okay, we have a situation here we've never encountered before, we can't get our cows to eat minerals! Usually, they'll chow right down on them, but now they are just turning their noses up at them. There's a few that have had a lick or two, but even those ones aren't gung-ho over them. Our cows are heavy in calf, less than a month before they start calving. I'd like them to take some minerals in so they can get some selenium passed on to their calves. What do I do? I was wondering if the hay they are getting has enough, if any, selenium in it and that's why they're not too interested in what I put out.
 
Shelley; We had a problem for years with mineral consumption; seemed like everytime we found a product that would work they either changed the formula or run out of product when we needed it. Tried a bit of Vigortone last winter; cows ate it but supply is a hassle; have to drive to Montana to get it. We started on Cargill's right-now program and have had excellent results. All our cattle go right after it. I'm trying to talk Asquith F & Ranch into carrying it. Send me a pm if you need other contact information.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Maybe you could mix it in your ration.
Click to expand...

Or maybe BMR could start his own Vigortone retail and delivery business.......I'd order some and I'm sure NR will take a load. BTW would you allow charge accounts? trades?. If so I'm sure there would be lots of business for you.................opportunity is knocking! :P :P
 
cowsense said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Maybe you could mix it in your ration.
Click to expand...

Or maybe BMR could start his own Vigortone retail and delivery business.......I'd order some and I'm sure NR will take a load. BTW would you allow charge accounts? trades?. If so I'm sure there would be lots of business for you.................opportunity is knocking! :P :P
Click to expand...


Knocking isn't exactly what I would call it. :wink: :shock:
 
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Shelly, how much Phos does that mineral have in it?
Phos is bitter and if the ratio is wrong, they won't eat very
well. Check that out and if that's the case, get some with
less phos. Very important to get the trace minerals in them
now, as you know.

Mag is bitter too, but that usually isn't a problem unless you
are feeding a hi-mag mineral, which I wouldn't think would be
the case at this time of year.

Is it a block? If so, it would be best to go get some loose mineral.
Cattle just can't get enough mineral out of a block.

Good luck, BTW.
 
Sorry, FH, I can't tell you how much phos is in it, I threw the bag away. Didn't think I'd need to know seeing as the minerals are the same brand bought from the same supplier. Maybe it's like cowsense said, they changed the formula. Anyhow, I've got to do something ........... I guess I should see what else I can get.
 
Shelly said:
Sorry, FH, I can't tell you how much phos is in it, I threw the bag away. Didn't think I'd need to know seeing as the minerals are the same brand bought from the same supplier. Maybe it's like cowsense said, they changed the formula. Anyhow, I've got to do something ........... I guess I should see what else I can get.
Click to expand...


Are they eating salt? Is there salt in the mineral? If they are eating salt and there is no salt in your mineral just mix some in and they should probably eat it. Worth a try.
 
cowsense said:
Shelley; We had a problem for years with mineral consumption; seemed like everytime we found a product that would work they either changed the formula or run out of product when we needed it. Tried a bit of Vigortone last winter; cows ate it but supply is a hassle; have to drive to Montana to get it. We started on Cargill's right-now program and have had excellent results. All our cattle go right after it. I'm trying to talk Asquith F & Ranch into carrying it. Send me a pm if you need other contact information.
Click to expand...

I use to have trouble untill I switched to the Cargill's right-now. This time of year I would use the Bronze. I have since switched to the Vigortone as Cargill priced themselves out of my business. I am uesing Vigortone froage pro this winter and I seem to like it so far. If you can't get Vigortone then buy a bag of right now bronze.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Shelly said:
Sorry, FH, I can't tell you how much phos is in it, I threw the bag away. Didn't think I'd need to know seeing as the minerals are the same brand bought from the same supplier. Maybe it's like cowsense said, they changed the formula. Anyhow, I've got to do something ........... I guess I should see what else I can get.
Click to expand...


Are they eating salt? Is there salt in the mineral? If they are eating salt and there is no salt in your mineral just mix some in and they should probably eat it. Worth a try.
Click to expand...

Tried that, didn't work. Any other suggestions? Pleeeeeeeezzzzzzzz!!!!!
 
Shelly said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Shelly said:
Sorry, FH, I can't tell you how much phos is in it, I threw the bag away. Didn't think I'd need to know seeing as the minerals are the same brand bought from the same supplier. Maybe it's like cowsense said, they changed the formula. Anyhow, I've got to do something ........... I guess I should see what else I can get.
Click to expand...


Are they eating salt? Is there salt in the mineral? If they are eating salt and there is no salt in your mineral just mix some in and they should probably eat it. Worth a try.
Click to expand...

Tried that, didn't work. Any other suggestions? Pleeeeeeeezzzzzzzz!!!!!
Click to expand...

Shelley- Try the Cargill program.....it works! Our fussy cattle go right after it. We buy it in Rosetown presently but hopefully can get a closer dealer!
 
Shelley, I've noticed that my mineral consumption is down this year as well. Did you happen to do a hay analysis? If not, try to get one done ASAP and tailor your mineral. Weatherguard is readily available all over Saskatchewan and offers many different mixes. It may simply be that a few minerals are already in sufficient supply in the hay, and your cattle simply don't want more.

Rod
 
DiamondSCattleCo said:
Shelley, I've noticed that my mineral consumption is down this year as well. Did you happen to do a hay analysis? If not, try to get one done ASAP and tailor your mineral. Weatherguard is readily available all over Saskatchewan and offers many different mixes. It may simply be that a few minerals are already in sufficient supply in the hay, and your cattle simply don't want more.

Rod
Click to expand...

Rod- I'm seeing the same...Mine didn't hardly use any mineral (Vigortone) all summer- than during Sept thru the first part of Nov. when they were on the stubble fields and old dryland hayfields and dry pasture I couldn't hardly pack it to them fast enough....Now that I've moved them to the river bottom hay meadows and have been giving them a little hay since the snow came- they are back to hardly using any again :roll:
 
Try adding a little more sorghum molasses to it, and be sure that the hay they are getting is not moldy! That puts a "taste" in their mouth that influences everything else that they eat. It shouldn't have to be a permanent addition - just enough for a few days to get thm started on it. Or try hot or very warm water for a day or two. Might be hard to do! Bad teeth may be a causitive factor, also. Probably the best suggestion is to change brands.

DOC HARRIS
 
Grandma and me are going to attend a Vigortone sponsored meeting (and free dinner :) ) tonite---I'll see if I can pick any ideas or tips on what to do....
One thing good about all these different product presentations, and cow sales, and bull sales is you can ride the grub line half the winter/spring...
 
Ok, call me a cynic, but has anyone thought of the fact that they are not eating the mineral because they are getting what they need already? I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about it. When they need mineral again they will go to it. Unless it is a hi phos. mineral and is too bitter. That happened to us once.
 
Tap said:
Ok, call me a cynic, but has anyone thought of the fact that they are not eating the mineral because they are getting what they need already? I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about it. When they need mineral again they will go to it. Unless it is a hi phos. mineral and is too bitter. That happened to us once.
Click to expand...

Thats what all the oldtimers tell me-- I don't worry that much about mineral because up until 7-8 years ago mine got nothing- except for some salt and they did just fine...In fact I probably wouldn't worry at all except for the fact that when I fertilized some hay meadows a few years back-- a couple of the cows grazing them the next spring got grass tetany-- so if I'm going to use fertilizer, I better use some mineral to balance things out- that I screwed up playing mother nature in the first place :roll: .....
 
I agree with Tap and OT on this one. Cows aren't as dumb as they look, if they need mineral they'll eat it. Just keep it in front of them and let the cows decide when they need it.
 

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