|
|
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
  
| My husband just bought 15 f1 brangus, a friend is recommending putting out a mineral block. He knows I will not let anything on our place that could harm the horses. Is there a safe mineral tub or block that is not full of molasses and is a mineral block necessary? |
|
| |
|
  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | We've only ever fed a loose mineral. There are several all species available. The tubs are a waste of money IMO. Purina makes a wind/rain version that we like. It stays loose and doesn't clumb and turn into a rock that they walk away from. In my area of WY we use a version that is higher in phos than most other places due to the lack of it naturally in the soil/feed. |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
 
| Those red mineral blocks should be OK. Yes cows need minerals. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 217
| It depends on your region if it's necessary or what's necessary. We have to supplement selenium here. I'd prefer loose minerals like previous statements but since we haven't built anything for it yet we can't.
As for a tub that's suited for both...Crystalyx has a tub called mineral-lyx listed under beef cattle and equine, but I have no experience with this actually tub and how much molasses is in it. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Texas | We keep mineral tubs out for our cows. I know tractor supply has one that is safe for horses. Most feed stores will have one that is for cows but stamped to be safe for horses. I think ours is made by Moore feed and is safe if the horses got in the cow pasture. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Cows need mineral blocks too.
We've fed our horses both the blue ones and the red ones over the years -- small pieces that were "left over" from the cows. Have never had a problem.
But yes, any molassic lick tubs -- keep the horses away from those.
|
|
| |
|
 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | wyoming barrel racer - 2018-02-04 8:15 PM
We've only ever fed a loose mineral. There are several all species available. The tubs are a waste of money IMO. Purina makes a wind/rain version that we like. It stays loose and doesn't clumb and turn into a rock that they walk away from. In my area of WY we use a version that is higher in phos than most other places due to the lack of it naturally in the soil/feed.
This. We use the loose minerals and salt and the cows will eat as needed.
Congrats on your new herd!! All F1s...niiiiice!!  |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
Location: Lone Star State | As everyone else has said, loose mineral. Will say on the bag if it's safe for horses. I can describe the bag but have gone blank on the name of mineral we use. I also like the bull mineral tubs...plastic round tub divided into 3 sections with a hard rubber flap on top that the animals have to lift.
Also need salt as well. |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Is there a bull in this herd?  |
|
| |
|
Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Southtxponygirl - 2018-02-05 1:39 PM Is there a bull in this herd?
Not yet, all bred, bull is coming later |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | We also feed loose mineral, get ours from a distributer, using McNess this year, but we switch periodically which I think is better for the cattle. If you want your cattle to continue to produce efficiently always keep mineral out to them, all year round. The lick tubs people are mentioning are more for protein then actual minerals, we only put them out a couple times a year (usually a couple months before pulling them from grass, then again this time of year when their not getting that nice green grass).
Cattle are a lot of work, you have to do it for the livelihood and love of it because it doesn't pay you well for the time we invest in them. But it is the life.
Good luck!
Edited by Peewee212 2018-02-05 2:52 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | Mineral is a must have- not very many pastures are completely balanced, and it would be good to know about your area when selecting a mineral. We use Payday loose mineral, and TM blocks. We also use Eddie's blocks before grass turnout, as they help with grass tetany and footrot. You can contact your local Extension office if you're not sure of the soil/vegetative qualities in your area.
Our area is high in Selenium, so we choose mineral that has less Se to avoid "overdose" problems.
Mineral balance is very important for reproduction, so if you're selling beef, it pays to get it right! |
|
| |
|
| Moorman's loose GroStrong Minerals will solve all of your concerns and you
will see horses and cattle having big strong babies and remaining healthy
without any problems ...
Put it in a wind, rain protected feeder in the feeding area.
|
|
| |
|
 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | My dad raises Angus, we have about 100 cows that calve every year plus 5 bulls. In the feeders he puts out trace mineral and selenium blocks. Then in the field in mineral tubs he puts purina Wind & Rain and during the summer Fly Control. He also several times a year puts a few big black tubs of mineral but idk what they are or what's in them. Sometimes instead he gets the 24% protein mineral tubs at TSC.
The horses are completely separate from the cows and typically that kind of stuff for the cows goes out the day it's bought, so there's really no chance of it coming into contact with the horse stuff. |
|
| |
|
 Regular
Posts: 62
Location: Oklahoma | We keep Purina wind and rain out for our cows. The horses love it and they look good also!!!! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | We put out loose mineral in a cattle feeder. We have it set up with panels to where the horses can't get to it but the cattle can come and go as they please. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | YES you must put out minerals for your cows, BUT if your horses are gonna run with your cows make sure the horses do not get into anything that has UREA in it cause it is harmful to the horses...however cows need it and it is usually in lick tubs of various brands for cows...your cows need minerals to keep them reproducing, cause for instance if they dont get enough calcium when they have a calf they can get milk fever and you have to administer calcium through IV, others minerals help them to breed back sooner, others minerals help to clean out faster after birth, Good LUCK!!! |
|
| |
|
Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Thanks everyone, you can tell from my question we know NOTHING about cows but my husband has always wanted them so here we go. I bought Bluebonnet Tech -Master, our area is low in copper and this was recommended. They are out on 100 acres, round bale, minerals and we plan to cube during calving and breeding, we do not expect to make money, lol. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| rodeomom3 - 2018-02-08 7:53 AM
Thanks everyone, you can tell from my question we know NOTHING about cows but my husband has always wanted them so here we go. I bought Bluebonnet Tech -Master, our area is low in copper and this was recommended. They are out on 100 acres, round bale, minerals and we plan to cube during calving and breeding, we do not expect to make money, lol.
If you cube them regularly, some will get very tame and then it gets really fun because those girls have PERSONALITY. We raise Santa Gertrudis and the Brahma does put spice in a cow, but they can become pretty tame (some of them). Their personalities are so varied - from the drama queen, the spooky cow who is also a chow hound, the bully, the sweetie, etc. Some are ones we showed, but those are pretty old now, but they all are fun. Plus cubing them makes them very easy to pen. |
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | rodeomom3 - 2018-02-08 7:53 AM
Thanks everyone, you can tell from my question we know NOTHING about cows but my husband has always wanted them so here we go. I bought Bluebonnet Tech -Master, our area is low in copper and this was recommended. They are out on 100 acres, round bale, minerals and we plan to cube during calving and breeding, we do not expect to make money, lol.
And I bet you'll get attached to those cute baby's when they come along. Have you named all the mommy's yet?  |
|
| |
|
 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | rodeomom3 - 2018-02-08 7:53 AM
Thanks everyone, you can tell from my question we know NOTHING about cows but my husband has always wanted them so here we go. I bought Bluebonnet Tech -Master, our area is low in copper and this was recommended. They are out on 100 acres, round bale, minerals and we plan to cube during calving and breeding, we do not expect to make money, lol.
And gotta have some pictures ya know?!!!! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | You have gotten great advice here! But now the mineral feeder so you don't waste all your mineral during the first storm. We made our mineral feeders like the one below. Our horses use them. Save tons of money as most of the items are either give aways (barrel and semi tire from the tire store) or scrap (wood planks on the bottom). Only items we purchased was the hardware. Rain proof and portable.
 (th.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 th.jpg (16KB - 197 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | luvropin - 2018-02-09 7:08 AM You have gotten great advice here! But now the mineral feeder so you don't waste all your mineral during the first storm. We made our mineral feeders like the one below. Our horses use them. Save tons of money as most of the items are either give aways (barrel and semi tire from the tire store) or scrap (wood planks on the bottom). Only items we purchased was the hardware. Rain proof and portable.
I like the idea, but our cows would tromp that into the ground. We use the Wind/Rain formul and it isn't affected by weather. Not even when snow piles on top of it. |
|
| |
|
Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| luvropin - 2018-02-09 8:08 AM You have gotten great advice here! But now the mineral feeder so you don't waste all your mineral during the first storm. We made our mineral feeders like the one below. Our horses use them. Save tons of money as most of the items are either give aways (barrel and semi tire from the tire store) or scrap (wood planks on the bottom). Only items we purchased was the hardware. Rain proof and portable.
My husband is looking at this one:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=246f390a-ca8e-4ed1-bda0-d1cb7daf294b&sfb=1&itemguid=baf7a49a-664d-4f4f-be33-4a5054899fb3&utm_content=39149&ccd=IFF003&CAWELAID=120295250000104289&CATARGETID=120295250000472681&cadevice=m&gclid=CjwKCAiAqvXTBRBuEiwAE54dcHndnDDc-TeTnYo_9-tCd3ex1cOzEadCw6bAmUiej4xL_bGlZt1hSxoCIxsQAvD_BwE |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho |
Those are pretty good, I have seen them before. We made 10 of the barrel feeders to put out and so far haven't had a single issue. We also use them in the bull pens. They spin and roll a bit (lag bolts allow the barrel to move around in the tire). We needed a project for a high school kid and these fit the bill. :) |
|
| |