loose minerals questions

[bonbean01]

Up to now our sheep have been fed pasture in summer, hay in winter and a sheep pellet year round with protein, vitamins and minerals, and also have salt licks. We tried the protein mineral blocks, but the sheep gnawed that down quickly and that got expensive, plus I'm sure they got much more than needed with the blocks.

So, looking at loose sheep minerals and wondering the best way to feed it. Free choice would be easiest I think, and fed to them in their shed out of the rain.

How do you the rest of you feed loose sheep minerals? Thanks

 

[doxiemoxie]

I feed the loose minerals as a top dressing with the pellets. However, my sheep are on pasture with goats and do not get the pellets every day. It's more of a treat, and supplement during bad weather. So about every other day, plus. The minerals are given with the pellets because I feed the goats and sheep different pellets and minerals. This way they eat their ration fairly quickly, and I can monitor who is eating what and how much. Also, my goats tend to take in more minerals when fed this way. BTW I only have 5 animals, so if you have a larger herd this may not be as easy. In the shed freely available should be fine. Just remember that sometimes they decide the new "food" is like candy and will eat A LOT at first, so you may still have to ration it a little in the beginning.

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day, this is a common question.Do you have any idea what your stock is deficient in?..What sort of soils do you have as this will give you a clue to what your pasture may be lacking.IE.Low or High PH...How much do you rely on the pellets for the Protein required to keep your stock in good health?..Can you you post the typical analysis that is on the tag for both the minerals and the pellets....What class of stock are you feeding IE. Ewe's feeding lambs ,weaned lambs or grown stock(whether's /ewe's)?

Would you be prepared to home mix your mineral ration from a recipe?.........T.O.R.................................

 

[bonbean01]

I'm not sure that they are lacking in anything nutrition wise...they are thriving very well and the pellets we feed are 14% protein and do have vitamins and minerals. It is a sheep feed we buy at a local Coop Feed Store. They get fat and sassy on the grass pasture and hay we feed. The spring lambs were all a good size this year and grew nicely, while the ewe mothers did not lose any condition while nursing them. If anything, the girls may be getting a bit on the rotund side, and I was wondering if I put them on a bit of a diet with less pellet feed, if I would need to supplement them on the minerals or not. Winter is not a good time to put them on a diet, but I don't want any birthing problems should they become too fat. They have hay all the time available to them now that the grass is taking a winter break, plain salt lick blocks, and all the fresh water they can drink. They appear to be very healthy with hearty appetites and seem pretty happy all around with their set up. We worm them monthly with a mixture of garlic barrier, apple cider vinegar, liquid vitamin Bs, probiotic and molasses. So far so good and we've not needed chemical wormers. We check their eyelids often for colour and they are doing well with this.

Okay...the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking we should stick to what is working well and perhaps just slowly cut back a bit on the pellets.

Thanks all for the input!

 

[Beekissed]

I fed free choice from a homemade feeder comprised of a 3 gal. water jug with a hole cut in the side and a rope strung through the handle in order to fasten it to the fence. I fed the same loose mineral to all livestock and noted they didn't overuse it like the tasty, molasses-laced blocks. I'd refill and they would rush to munch it when first refilled, but then would only nibble on it as needed thereafter.

I used sea kelp meal and coarse salt only. I was pleased with the cost efficacy and the performance and safety of it.

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day, I agree with BK,the only other thing I would add would be CaMg(co3)2 to address any imbalance in these to elements.Seaweed meal contains "everything" and has Trace Elements to boot........................T.O.R.........................
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