12 minute read
Tips For Managing Free Choice Mineral Intake
Photographed at Smith Genetics by Hannah Wine.
By Mary Drewnoski
Free choice mineral mixes are commonly used to provide the mineral that grazing cattle need. However, ensuring that cattle are getting enough mineral without overconsuming can be a struggle. Being on either side of the spectrum can be costly either in reduced performance due to deficiency or in increased feed cost due to over consumption. An extra 1 oz per cow per day can cost $4 to $8 per cow per year. If your mineral mix is designed to meet the cows needs at 4 oz. per day, intake above this only adds unnecessary cost.
In most situations cattle intake of free choice mineral is driven by their desire for salt. Although there may be other ingredients that are added to improve intake such as molasses or even distillers. Cattle do not have nutritional wisdom and do not vary their intake of mineral based on their need for minerals in the mix. Because salt is usually one of the key drivers of intake, you will observe variation in intake throughout the year as the cows’desire for salt change. Therefore, salt can be used as a weapon to control intake.
In most situations, adding some salt to a mineral mix will cause cattle to eat it. This along with the fact that forage is deficient in sodium is why all free choice minerals have salt in them. You may also notice that mixes with smaller target intakes usually have more salt than those with greater target intakes, i.e., 2 oz. vs. 4 oz. targets. As you start increasing the salt, you can cause them to start decreasing their intake because they get their salt “fix” with less intake. So, if cattle are eating above your target intake, mixing in more salt at home can help reduce intake of the mix. Relatively speaking, salt is cheap and can be a very cost-effective way to manage mineral intake.
If you do add extra salt at home, do not include this salt in your calculation for reaching the target intake of the mineral mix as it is diluting the mix. The goal is to make sure cows reach the target intake of actual mineral. For instance, if the target is 4 oz. per hd (0.25 lb. per hd) of a mineral mix, then for 100 cows you are looking for them to consume 25 lbs. of the mineral mix per day or half a 50 lb. bag. If you add 10 lbs. of salt to a 50 lb. bag of mineral, you actually want them to consume 30 lbs. total per day to get their target intake of the actual mineral mix. The easy way to ensure you are reaching your goal is to track the amount of mineral mix you feed separate from the amount of salt you add. Then you don’t have to do extra math. Although, it is still a good idea to record the amount of salt that is being added so that the amount can be
adjusted based on intake (i.e., increase if still eating too much or decrease the added salt if not reaching the target intake).
Can’t I just put out salt separate? It will reduce intake of my mineral.
While providing salt separate can reduce mineral intake, it can lead to more variability in intake of mineral among the herd. Some cows may be eating the mix while others may only be consuming salt. Thus, you may not be meeting your objective even if the “right” amount of mix is disappearing. Also, you may find that on a whole the herd is over or under consuming the mix. Providing the salt separate reduces your ability to use one of your best weapons in controlling intake.
If weatherization is important, try adjusting location of the feeder first.
Word of caution, if you are paying for a mineral mix that has weatherization because your feeder does not protect the mix from the rain/wind and you add additional salt, you can reduce effectiveness of the weatherization. So, depending on the type of feeder and the amount of protection from weather it provides, you may want to first try moving the location of the feeders to help control intake. Moving feeders closer to water or loafing areas can increase intake. Moving them away from these areas can often reduce intake.
Can’t I just limit intake by putting out the amount I want them to eat and not fill again until the prescribed time?
For instance, one could just put out a week’s worth of mineral mix and not fill the feeder again until the next week, regardless of the fact that all the mineral mix disappeared in the first day or two. It is true that for some minerals cattle do not need a constant intake, as they can store some of them in their body and use them at a later time. However, this is not true for the macrominerals like phosphorous and magnesium. But an even bigger problem with this system is that the boss cows are likely to be the ones getting most of the mineral. This means that some of your herd will be consuming more than they need while others are getting less than they need. When you put out mineral after they have not had access for a period of time, they will often overconsume and the boss cows are going to be the ones that get the first shot. Using this method to control intake may not result in the best outcomes.
Do this first if mineral feeders are empty.
We have all been there. We put out mineral and a week later we check and it is empty. What should you do? Again, salt is your friend. If they eat the mineral too quickly and you come back to find an empty mineral feeder put out some straight salt for a day to ensure everyone has met their salt craving. This will help to reduce them gorging on mineral when you put it out. It will also help you get a better handle on their normal craving for salt and better hone in on how much to add to the mix because they will not be binging. Make sure to take away the straight salt when you provide them with the mineral mix the next day. If the feeder was empty because they over consumed, then consider either moving the location and/or adding more salt to get intake more in line with the target.
One last thing to consider, do you have enough feeders?
A good rule of thumb is one feeder per 30 cows. This will help make sure that more timid cows have the opportunity to get access. This is especially important for larger pastures/ rangeland as cows tend to move as a group. This means they are often in the area with the feeders all at the same time. If there is limited accessibility, the more timid cows likely will not get their dose.
POWER BLOOD
When it comes to adding individuals to our herd, we look for power--both phenotypically and genetically with great eye appeal and backed up by top API and TI rankings. In the last year, we have added the breeding power of Smith Like Never Before 328G and Smith Mills Juliet’s Forever. We are excited about the future they bring to our program.
in the
Smith Like Never Before 328G. Sired by Smith Practical and out of Smith Isgrig Bella Notte, a daughter of Bella Bella x Mr HOC Broker. His numbers fit our program by ranking in the top 15% for API and top 10% for TI. We are looking forward to being able to offer some of his first calves later this year and into 2022.
Smith Mills Juliet’s Forever 915F. A purebred female sired by Smith Secret To Success and out of Smith SWFS Juliet 315A, who is a leading donor at Smith Genetics. We are looking forward to her Smith Practical 42D calf that arrives in early 2022.
5MM Ranch
Giddings, Texas Purebred/Percentage Simbrah Cliff &Sandra Marshall 512/799-4471 cliff.marshall@gmail.com
We’re developing new lines of genetics through the breeding power of Accelerator, a purebred Brahman and Pay It Forward, a purebred Simmental. We have chosen these sires as we think they bring a lot of power, mass, breeding predictability and diversity to our program. Call us, we’d love to visit with you about the difference we are breeding.
Mr. 4F Accelerator - A homozygouspolled Brahman. His sire is Mr. V8 279/7 (P), his grand sire is +JDH Mr. Elmo Manso. Accelerator’s dam is a granddaughter of the 2005 International Champion Mr. V8 845/5 “The Rock”.Owned with Luis Flores Family. His calves are phenomenal and we are using him for Brahmans and Simbrahs. Call Pete for details on semen and his calves.
Pete Nieschwietz P.O. Box 303 • Falls City, Texas78113 956/460-6002 www.7Nranch.net • pjnieschwietz@sbcglobal.net Ranches located in Donna and Falls City
PAGE 8 Fall, 2021 • SIMBRAH World RS Pay It Forward 7141G - A homozygous black purebred Simmental that we purchased from Rinker Simmentals in Illinois. He is sired by the Denver Champion, LLSF Pays To Believe. He has a top 30% ranking for TI. We are utilizing him to produce Simmentals and breeding him on our 3/8 SM x 5/8 BR females to produce a new line of Simbrah genetics.
Thank you Simpson Family - We want to thank the Billie Dee Simpson family for purchasing this fancy baby doll that son, Ryan will show. She’s sired by Smith No Better Than This 328G and out of a cow we own with Smith Genetics, Full Karat, who is a product of Smith Nu Approach and Smith Pure Diamond. We are excited to see her campaigned by this family.
Synergy Lots - This baby doll, sired by 7N Smith Potential, is one of our lots that will sell in the Synergy Sale, Sept. 25th. Be sure to check out our lots in the catalog and we look forward to seeing you in Giddings, Texas.
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She held many interests including hunting and fishing, cooking and baking, camping and spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include husband Brian; daughter, Kinley Grayce; her parents, Charles and Cynthia Hahn; sisters, Emily Melngailis (Noah); Katie West (Cameron); brother, Andrew Hahn (Hanna); in-laws, Ernest and Jeannie Knezek and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Yoakum, Texas.
Vows exchanged
Emily Mullins and Mason Wintters exchanged vows at Old Glory Ranch in Wimberly, Texas on June 10th. She is the daughter of Jason and Amanda Mullins and a past junior exhibitor, Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association Sweetheart and Director. The couple reside in Lindale, Texas and are both agricultural science teachers at Winona ISD.
Congratulations to Martinez family
Charlie and Vanessa Martinez, former junior Simbrah exhibitors, welcomed Remington Rose to their family on Aug. 4, 2021. She weighed 7 lbs. and 1 oz. and measured
(Continued on page 10) Emily and Mason Wintters
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20.25 in. in length, She was welcomed by big brother, Henry and grandparents Lucas and Norma Hinojosa and Rick and Martha Martinez. The family now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is an assistant professor and Extension specialist in the University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
For Simbrah news, go online
Simbrah breeders and enthusiasts are encouraged to visit www.simbrahworld.com for latest news, calendar dates and show results. In addition to the news, all issues of the magazine and the annual Simbrah News Commercial Feature are archived on this site. Simbrah World is also very social, check out our Facebook page for posts on a weekly basis. Also, at the bottom of the home page on the website is a form that can be filled out to receive the magazine in the mail. Fill it out for your customers. There is no charge to receive magazine. For information on advertising opportunities contact Martha at hollidacompany@gmail.com or call 903/316-8465.
To advertise in Simbrah World, Simbrah News or the web, contact: Martha Hollida Garrett hollidacompany@gmail.com 903/316-8465
Remington Rose Martinez
Smith JCC The Thrill 04J
He’s a 3/4 SM x 1/4 BR, sired by Smith CRC Lubbock and out of our jointly owned, Smith Go Girl N Black, a purebred Simmental sired by Flying B Cut Above. The Thrill ranks in the top 4% for API and top 5% for TI, while having a total of 12 EPD tabulations in the top 30%. He’s heterozygous black, polled and loaded with muscle, mass and shape. We will be campaigning him on the show circuit this coming year.
Keep an eye out for The Thrill — we think you will be thrilled with him!
JOHNSON CATTLE CO.
Wayne Johnson 830/391-2571 Kenny Johnson 361/438-3413 • wjohnson4945@sbcglobal.net Tim Smith consultant • 512/587-7896 • smithgenetics1@gmail.com Follow us on Facebook- Johnson Cattle Company, Kenedy, Texas We purchased Smith BSF Monas Valentin 210U in the 2018 Synergy Sale and we continue to be impressed with her and her production. 210U is sired by Smith Nu Wave II and is out of the Eleanor cow herself— making her a full sister to Smith Isgrig Charismatic. Females from the Eleanor line are known for their longevity, milking ability and maternal power to raise high indexing calves. Ellie is carrying on the family traditions. You have to appreciate her angularity and substance of bone.
We want to thank Jason Taylor for purchasing a fancy daughter of 210U and Smith Just Because from us.
We are located near Caldwell, Texas and invite you to follow us on Facebook, visit our website and the gates are always open for visitors.
Mark Melson
P.O. Box 1085 Caldwell, Texas 77836 979/777-0771
melsonsimbrah@gmail.com
www.melsonsimbrah.com
