Thorvin Dried Kelp

[kansasdexters]

I've been trying different supplemental sources for minerals and recently started using Thorvin Icelandic Kelp. I've been mixing 1/2 cup of the dried kelp with a quart (2 lb) of sweet feed per animal per day, for any cow or bull that we're keeping confined in the barn area and breeding paddock, and feeding hay. This group also has free choice 24-hour access to a balanced loose mineral/salt mix. After two weeks, I'm noticing some positive effects from the kelp in the appearance of their eyes and coat. This stuff smells like the Atlantic ocean, and at first, they left it in the feed trough. Now they're lapping it up. I'm thinking about offering it free choice, through the winter, in a section of all the mineral feeders, for all of the herd. Is anyone else doing this?

Here is a link to where I bought it:
feed.countrysideorganics.com/thorvin-icelandic-kelp-certified-organic-50-lb-bag.html

Does anyone have a better source for this?



Patti

[midhilldexters]

I started it about 3 years ago, and my feed store charged me $80a bag back then for a $50 Lb bag. Like you I thought coats were better, winter lice wasn't as noticeable and in fly season I didn't have watery eyes. It is expensive, and they didn't all care for it at the start, but when they get into it they loved it, as did the sheep. I use it free choice over winter only.
If you have a Fertrell dealer locally, they carry kelp.
fertrell.com/locator/

Carol

[RedRidge]

I used Thorvin for a few years and after much research switched to this...
www.noamkelp.com/slfeed.html

Not quite as pricey, quality is just as good, and their service is good with fast delivery (about half a dozen of us order in bulk).

It's one of my smorgasbord ingredients along with a 50/50 mixture of Redmond salt (for the cattle) and Redmond 90 (for the sheep). I also add it to my winter poultry ration.

[midhilldexters]

I should add the Fertrell kelp is their own brand, not Thorvin.

Carol K

[kansasdexters]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Carol and Sheri. Glad to know that I can mix it with Redmond salt and what ratio to use. It will be interesting to see how much kelp the cows consume this winter, and if it makes a significant difference in their overall health and condition. I hadn't thought about giving it to the chickens, but I'm willing to try it with our small flock.

Patti

[zephyrhillsusan]

Our chickens really liked it, and even when some of the cattle didn't, they went for it. They seem to like the Copperhead minerals we put out for the cattle, too.

[RedRidge]

Nov 5, 2014 21:49:23 GMT -5 kansasdexters said:

Thanks for sharing your experience, Carol and Sheri. Glad to know that I can mix it with Redmond salt and what ratio to use. It will be interesting to see how much kelp the cows consume this winter, and if it makes a significant difference in their overall health and condition. I hadn't thought about giving it to the chickens, but I'm willing to try it with our small flock.

Patti

Clarification... The 50/50 ratio I was referring to was the ratio of the two Redmonds I use to get the selenium I want. I do not mix the Redmonds with my kelp. I use a smorgasbord type mineral setup, offering each mineral separately. This permits each individual animal to choose exactly how much they need of each mineral. I offer the plain redmonds to the cattle and mix the plain with Redmonds 90 for the sheep (offering them about a 45 ppm mix if selenium as well).
For poultry the kelp is part of my winter post ferment ration (one of the weighed ingredients added daily to my fermented grains).
I think that explanation was unclear in my previous post and I didn't want anyone thinking I was combining the kelp and Redmonds and/or had a recommended ratio of the two.

[kansasdexters]

Thanks for the clarification Sheri. I'd read through your post too quickly and didn't read it right the first time. I will try just putting the plain dried kelp into a section of the mineral feeder and see how well the cows consume it free choice. I'm a bit concerned about it blowing out of the feeder (we get really strong winds in Kansas) and was hoping to mix it in with something that would help keep it in place. I'll try just putting it in a few inches deep, and then refill that section of the mineral feeder more frequently.


Patti

[RedRidge]

Have you tried a mineral feeder with a flip up lid?

[kansasdexters]

We have mineral feeders with flip up covers (but without the flykiller stuff). Here's what they look like:

www.flykillerkover.com/bullmaster2mineralfeeder.html

The problem is that we get 40 to 60 mph winds and the covers we have can get bent over and stuck open.

Some people around here just use a big old tractor tire, set it vertically in a concrete slab, put some drain holes into the sides, and then put the loose mineral or salt blocks into the trough that is formed by the lower part of the upright tire. That way, the mineral or salt blocks are covered and the cover can't move or get stuck open.

[RedRidge]

You must have some serious wind. Those are very similar to mine and even during high winds I have no problems. As a matter of fact, I prop them open when I have youngsters because they can't lift them. We must have a much heavier rubber lid on ours... I've frequently thought they were too heavy.

[zephyrhillsusan]

That's one thing that has stopped me investing in those for our half dozen animals, the fear that the calves couldn't get in. I remember Kansas winds, Patti. We visited my veterinarian uncle there one Thanksgiving when I was a child, and my memories were vivid: flat, brown, cold & very windy!

[bruff64]

We are using the dried powdered form with our cattle. Living 2 hours from the New England coast we are looking into a day trip to try harvesting some of our own and drying it back on the farm. Any excuse to go to the coast for the day and this would be a good one. Lobster rolls for lunch!!

[kansasdexters]

Ellen,

Countryside Organics has Thorvin Organic Kelp for $52.50 per 50 lb bag, and they ship FedEx to your door for about $25.00. They also have dealership opportunities, if you want to become a distributor in your area for their product.

feed.countrysideorganics.com/thorvin-icelandic-kelp-certified-organic-50-lb-bag


Patti

[dexterlady]

Patty or anyone else who can answer this question....I bought a bag of kelp about two years ago ( 50lbs), I was going to mix it with cotton seed and another ingredient that was suppose to be wonderful for the cows....Well, I never did get to mix this stuff...So this bag of kelp has been sitting in a metal trash can since...Does anyone think it would be still good to use?...I thought maybe if it hasn't gone bad, maybe I could use it to feed to the cows with some loose minerals....So would you just dump this kelp or use it?...Thanks in advance....Donna