Irish Dexter Cattle - How Do You feed loose Mineral?

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Dec 2, 2009, 5:04am

Irish Dexter Cattle :: General :: Cattle Nutrition :: How Do You feed loose Mineral?

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Topic: How Do You feed loose Mineral? (Read 180 times)

prairieboy
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How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Thread Started on Sept 6, 2009, 2:37pm »

We have never had cattle with horns before.

Do your horned Dexter have any difficulty eating loose mineral from a weather vane covered mineral feeder?

We would appreciate hearing what type feeder you use and have found to be successful in keeping the loose mineral dry and in place during strong winds.

Thank you.

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genebo
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #1 on Sept 6, 2009, 3:41pm »

This isn't the answer you wanted. I don't use a loose mineral feeder. I offer my Dexters a treat of some sweetfeed mixed with loose mineral every morning. A little less than a pound of feed each.

Two reasons: It gives me a chance to inspect them, rub them and play with them, and helps to make them tame as pets. The other reason is that the calves love to treat the mineral feeder as a playtoy. If I put 25# of minerals in the feeder in the morning, there'll be none in it at night.

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Genebo
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kansasdexters
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #2 on Sept 6, 2009, 4:23pm »

We use a "Bull Master" mineral feeder. It has three compartments, it's made of heavy duty plastic with a strong rubber-like flap cover, sits low to the ground, and it can be staked in place. We keep one of these mineral feeders in every pasture area and in our barn yard. It keeps the loose mineral supplement clean, dry, and always available. Even the calves can use it easily (for access to the mineral supplement, and as a "King of the Mountain" play thing).

Patti

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prairieboy
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #3 on Sept 6, 2009, 5:40pm »

Thank you for the replies.

It is interesting that the both of you replied. I am using the Onyx mineral that Patti has mentioned in a past post (also, we talked on the phone a few months back and Onyx was mentioned). It is an excellent product but too expensive to waste in a feeder that the calves may tip over. So Genebo, your comment is very well appreciated and taken.

Patti, you know the kansas wind and last weeks 3-5 inch rain could have ruined a lot of feed products. Cargill's website says that Onyx does not need to be fed in a covered feeder. They actually recommend an inverted tire. I do not trust that. Maybe if my goal was to sell more product I would not be concerned with wind and rain either.

I am concerned and want to save every penny I can from rats, wind, rain and what not.

I'm still all ears to hear other options with horned cattle.

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legendrockranch
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #4 on Sept 6, 2009, 7:52pm »

Our animals just won't touch loose minerals, we've tried. We purchased 2 nice mineral feeders, even bought some of the "Right Now" minerals by Cargill (not Onyx). Still no luck.
The feeders we used were similar to the one pictured in the link below. We call them whirlybirds, they spin around depending on which way the wind is blowing. The only difference in ours as apposed to the pictured one is that the legs were 4 long pipes instead of in a circle.

http://www.behlencountry.com/products/mineral_feeders

The animals couldn't tip them over, but the bull sure liked spinning the top.

Finally we gave up on loose minerals and started using the the Crystalyx tubs. It isn't cheap though.

Barb

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B. Netti
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ctownson
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #5 on Sept 6, 2009, 8:18pm »

I mix loose minerals with the sweet feed or grain that I feed each day. It works well.

charles

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copperhead
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #6 on Sept 6, 2009, 9:05pm »

I tried top dressing sweet feed with mineral, and they ate the feed and left the minerals, don't know how they can do it, but they can. I feed loose minerals, mixed with a few handfulls of salt. They eat it right up, but the salt keeps them from eating too much. I have had them turn it ove though, so I'm going to stake it down. (it's the whirly kind)
The mineral lick tub is nice, but too pricey for me. It has to be kept in the dry, too

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cddexter
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #7 on Sept 12, 2009, 11:51pm »

I, too, use loose minerals. I get it as a special mix from my vet, designed for our area (we are very low in selenium because of all the rain). As straight mineral, they wouldn't touch it. Now, I mix it 50/50 with loose coarse salt, and have a weather vane type round feeder on a metal ring, close to the ground. Never had a problem with the animals tipping it over. They are too busy licking up the salt. Actually, they stick out their tongues and press them onto the salt mix. Funny to watch. By mixing the mineral in with the salt, they can't separate out the bits they dont like.

A prof at the Wash. State U. told us that 'blocks' don't work well, because they are designed not to melt in rain, and the cows could d**n near wear their tongues off before they could lick up enough of anything to be really of use. c.

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Star Creek Dexters
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #8 on Oct 15, 2009, 7:32am »

Genebo,
What amount of loose mineral do you mix with your sweet feed? I think this is the route I am going to go. I have looked at lots of options, and, Thank God, the animals I am getting are used to eating minerals and don't seem to have a problem with it. I like the idea of hand feeding them.
Kimberly~

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Kimberly
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genebo
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #9 on Oct 15, 2009, 6:07pm »

I'm not very exact about it. I mix 6 pounds of sweet feed and corn gluten together and add a handful of loose mineral to it. I put my hand into the mineral bucket and grab a handful. I divide the mixture among three buckets. One bucket is dumped into each of the two feed bunkers. The third bucket I carry around, feeding the shy ones and the little calves.

I don't worry about exact amounts, because I also keep a couple of mineral salt blocks out at all times. If I don't give them the exact right amount, they'll make up for it on the blocks.

I currently have 8 Dexters.

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Genebo
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #10 on Oct 15, 2009, 7:15pm »

Thanks! My feed store told me about 1/3 cup for the three of them. So that sounds about par for what your doing. I too have salt/mineral blocks, so that should work out! =)

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Kimberly
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lsg
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #11 on Oct 22, 2009, 6:40pm »

We feed mineral/salt mix free choice.

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prairieboy
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Re: How Do You feed loose Mineral?
« Reply #12 on Oct 23, 2009, 8:26am »

My limited experience is that the spinner type of mineral feeder hits the horns of my Dexters.
They could use this style feeder, but it is not a natural fit for horned cattle. We did not want to put expensive mineral out in an open tub due to rain and other contaminants
ruining the product.

The "bull tub" style with a flap over the top is one we have not tried, none of the dealers in our county have this style and I did not care to order on-line or travel.

We ended up using a spinner type mineral feeder that is marketed for sheep and goats. This is a small size feeder that allows the muzzle of the cows to easily enter and they eat all they want. The horns can be like Watusi cattle and they could still eat out of this feeder. The horns are outside and never touch the feeder. The only draw back is that it is small and you can not dump a whole sack in. This is OK for me, and helps me keep the mineral fresh...... Besides the goats use this also.

« Last Edit: Oct 23, 2009, 8:29am by prairieboy »

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