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Managing Mineral Supplement Intake: The Key to Results 
The first principle of cattle nutrition is intake. It doesn’t matter how nutritious a feed is or how precisely a mineral is formulated if the cow refuses to eat it. For a mineral supplement to improve health and production cattle have to consume the appropriate amount day in and day out. Proper consumption doesn’t happen automatically. Like everything else involving cattle, free-choice mineral feeding takes wise management. Consuming the right level of a mineral supplement over time is also important to insure a good return on investment. Consistent daily consumption of the nutrients in Range Mineral supplements results in maximum absorption and utilization. All Range Mineral products have a recommended daily intake level on the label (normally 2 to 4 ounces). However, voluntary consumption of a mineral supplement varies naturally due to several factors. Understanding these variables can be a great help in managing mineral consumption. Factors That Influence Mineral Consumption Access to Other Supplements Many cases of low mineral supplement consumption can be explained by the presence of additional salt or supplements available to the cattle. When feeding a Range Mineral supplement, all salt blocks and other supplements should be removed. Commercial protein supplements such as blocks or molasses tubs generally contain added salt and minerals. A Range Mineral supplement can be fed in addition to a protein supplement but consumption of the mineral should be expected to be low. Salt and Phosphorus Levels Salt level has an obvious influence on supplement intake. Some salt is generally necessary to get cattle to consume a mineral supplement over an extended period of time. At higher percentages, salt can also serve to limit consumption.  Most ranchers have seen the attraction that phosphorus has for cattle, especially coming off range in the fall and winter. Cattle will usually consume even poorly-formulated, bitter-tasting mineral supplements for a short period of time to satisfy their phosphorus craving. Because of its extreme bitter/sour taste, phosphorus will eventually limit voluntary consumption of supplements even in phosphorus starved cattle. Unfortunately, this also means they stop taking in essential trace minerals and vitamins. Two keys to consistent consumption are balancing phosphorus levels to meet deficiencies throughout the course of the year, and matching phosphorus levels to cattle preference. This is the reason Range Mineral base packages offer varying phosphorus levels.
As a general rule, the lower the feed quality, the higher the level of phosphorus needed to meet deficiencies and control consumption. Phosphorus is the primary consumption controller in the Range Mineral products. The 10 and 12 percent phosphorus base packages are used in the fall and winter when forage phosphorus levels are low and animal demand for phosphorus is high. The 4 and 7 percent phosphorus base packages are generally used in the spring and summer when cattle preference for phosphorus declines as better quality forage becomes available. An important reminder is that (at any time of year) a higher phosphorus content will reduce mineral consumption while lower phosphorus in the mineral will increase consumption. Moisture A mineral supplement is inherently unpalatable, especially when high levels of trace minerals are added. Range Mineral products use high quality carrier ingredients and flavoring agents to mask bitter flavors and improve palatability. However, some of the mineral ingredients are naturally reactive in the presence of water. This means that once the product becomes wet it loses palatability and cattle consumption may drop off dramatically. If your Range Mineral supplement is to be fed in open containers, consider including the Xtra DryTM option to help protect mineral from moisture damage. Long Term Exposure Exposure to air will also cause changes in a mineral supplement over time through oxidative reactions. This is not a problem under normal feeding conditions where the mineral is consumed within a few days. Mineral that has been in a feeder for more than two weeks may become "stale" and unpalatable to livestock even if it is kept dry. Location and Accessibility Location and accessibility of mineral feeders greatly affects consumption. The more time animals spend in close proximity to a supplement the more mineral they will consume. Raising or lowering consumption can be accomplished by moving feeders to different locations in relation to water sources and loafing areas. As a general caveat, if access to mineral feeders becomes too difficult a certain percentage of cattle will stop consuming mineral. The number of feeders available is also a factor in consumption. Boss cows tend to push less aggressive cows away from mineral feeders. A general recommendation is to provide at least one feeder or tub for every 40 head of mature cattle to insure proper consumption. If consumption level is too low try adding more feeders before doing anything else. When using covered mineral feeders, the number of available feeders should be doubled. Normally only two or three cows can access a covered feeder at a time compared to four or five for an open tub. Other Important Mineral Feeding Considerations 
Feeding Mineral for the First Time When putting a Range Mineral supplement out for the first time or when the animals have not been supplemented for an extended period of time the most common reaction is for cattle to consume more than the recommended amount. If consumption is more than twice the label recommendation for over one week, a higher phosphorus product should be used. The mineral can also be diluted with salt at a rate of one part salt to four parts mineral until consumption drops into the recommended range. It not uncommon to see herds take several days to become accustomed to a new mineral product before the recommended intake level is achieved. In cases of prolonged low intake, making a switch to a lower phosphorus product will usually increase consumption. Saline and Sodic Soil and Forage Conditions Cattle grazing in areas where soils are high in soluble salts or sodium will not usually consume typical mineral mixes in adequate amounts. This is not because they don’t need the minerals and vitamins, but because a high level of dietary sodium depresses a cow’s normal salt craving. Under these extreme environmental conditions the need for supplementation is often greater because saline and sodium saturated soils inhibit plant absorption of critical elements such as zinc and phosphorus. A mineral supplement with very low or no added salt and enhanced palatability can work well to achieve adequate consumption in saline and/or sodic soil areas. The Range Mineral.com system does not currently offer a no-salt base package option because we would prefer to handle these situations on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to contact us if you have experienced low mineral consumption and suspect you have saline-sodic soil areas. We would be happy to work with you to develop a custom product for your situation. 
Potential Toxicity Although all minerals can have toxic effects if consumed in very large amounts, selenium and copper are the two elements which have the most potential for toxicity problems if fed in excess. Selenium is of primary concern because the tolerance range is relatively narrow. It is normally the first mineral to become deficient with accompanying health and reproductive problems, and is also the most likely to be consumed in excess and produce symptoms of toxicity. This is one reason the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the use of selenium in animal diets and prescribes a maximum amount that can be fed. Range Mineral products are formulated to be within legal limits for selenium. Mineral consumption should be monitored and managed to stay within the recommended range so selenium intake does not exceed the legal limit. Exceeding the legal feeding limit for selenium does not mean that there is a potential for toxicity. Range Mineral supplements would have to be consumed in excess of one pound per head daily for an extended period of time to pose a risk for selenium or copper toxicity. A greater risk exists if mineral feeding is combined with the feeding of other manufactured supplements such as blocks, pellets or liquid feeds that may also contain supplemental selenium and copper. Long Term Storage Range Mineral supplements have a long shelf life if stored in unopened bags in a cool, dry location. While our poly-lined bags minimize oxidative reactions, the greatest concern with long term storage is loss of vitamin potency. Range Mineral products utilize micro coated vitamin supplements that are designed to resist oxidative breakdown. Range Mineral supplements can be stored up to 6 months with near full vitamin potency and up to a year with 80% potency. The Range Mineral product line is formulated to meet exceptionally high quality standards and designed to provide unparalleled management flexibility with our system of customizing every product. This provides a more efficient and effective delivery of nutrients to your cattle allowing them to become as healthy, productive and profitable as possible. |
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