Mineral Consumption: It Matters!

Cattle mineral nutrition is complex and often confusing, but one strategy to help ranchers better evaluate their mineral program is to monitor mineral consumption. This goes back to the old adage, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

 

Mineral supplement tags provide the recommended daily intake based on specific product formulations. Recommended intakes can vary widely depending on the brand and type of product, with the most common being 1 to 4 oz. per day for loose minerals. Producers should always read the mineral tag to know how much the cattle should be consuming and to help determine if their herd is actually consuming that recommended intake. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this.

 

 

For the big picture, calculate pounds of mineral fed during the year. Multiply total pounds fed during the year by 16 to calculate the total ounces delivered. Divide ounces by 365 days. Finally, divide ounces delivered per day by the number of head in the herd to determine average mineral intake per head per day.

 

Another way to monitor consumption is to keep a record of mineral delivery. Record the quantity of mineral delivered each time and how many days that quantity lasts. Monitoring this closely will help identify times when grass quality changes, which can influence changes in mineral consumption. For instance, cattle will consume mineral differently when grass is lush and growing rapidly compared to when it is dormant. The calculation is the same as outlined above, but the number of days changes based on frequency of delivery.

 

Once consumption is calculated, management strategies can be implemented to overcome consumption issues. Forage and water samples can provide valuable information in assessing whether or not the mineral supplement complements the available forage and water to meet cattle nutrient requirements.