cow mineral

[ALLFARMER]

Alberta Ag publishes a "The Beef cow-calf
manual" It's a very good resource for its
money....like 25 or 30$

310-farm

[ALLFARMER]

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[smcgrath76]

The simpler way if you have a good mill
around is to test your feed, and buy a
custom mix. We use Greenbelt Farms at
Wainwright and are super happy. The
mineral program we are on with them is
quite a bit cheaper than UFA salt and
works better. We do pickup the product
in minibulk bags (tonne at a time).
They can bag it but it costs a fair bit
more.
This covers issues such as high Phos in
land that has been continually swath
grazed (add Ca to mineral), or ration or
local weather issues affecting quality.
Would have to get our last bill out but
it is a very small investment per head
per day.

[grassfarmer]

Most of the minerals you listed are a little higher than
in the one I use Allfarmer. However we have no
fertility or performance concerns with our herd that
would interest me in moving to a $1760/T mineral
versus a $915/T mineral.

[ALLFARMER]

I'll have to see if the coop here sells mineral.

[smcgrath76]

Our last load of breeding mineral ran
$850 per tonne. Our regular maintenance
mineral was $575 last go. This varies
depending on ingredient prices but
includes all salt, mineral and vitamin
premix. The breeding stuff generally
runs about 150% of the cost of
maintenance mineral but is only needed
for about 3 months a year (1 month
prebreeding then 60 days of breeding).

[grassfarmer]

How much salt is in these mixes you buy Sean?

[smcgrath76]

GF - it varies. Would have to go find
my last sheet. The salt is used in part
to control intake as well, since it is a
loose mineral. I will talk to Marc and
find out more as I have to take some
tests in over the next week or two. I
rely on him pretty heavily as I don't
always have time to run everything
through cowbytes.
He is a dairy guy so has a lot better
handle on nutrition/production than us
poor beef types.

[chaser]

What do you use as a feeder so mineral doesnt get wet?

[SCS]

We use the Cargill mineral. weather resistance to a degree. We really like the results on what it is doing for us!

SCS