A:   When designing a mineral progam, make sure you understand the class of livestock you are working with and what minerals and at what level the minerals will be supplied by the diet that is being consumed either in the grazed forage or feeds being fed. The 1996 NRC for beef cattle is a resource that will have nutrient needs of livestock and average nutrient compositions of feeds and forages. In addition, many times you can get information of nutrient content of forages in your state at the extension office. A mineral supplementation program should simple, economical, and meet the needs of the cow herd as they change from one phase of production to another, and as they change diets (grazed pastures to harvested forages). These kinds of strategies have a good chance of being implemented. Calcium and P are probably the two minerals that most cow/calf producers should focus on especially when feeding harvested forages and before and during the breeding season. Phosphorus is the most expensive mineral that is supplemented. A time tested, cost effective mineral program, has been a program that is ½ dicalcium phosphate (dical): ½ salt. Always have salt available for the cow herd. Some producers have included a trace mineralized salt in some situations when using dical. If the diet has a good phosphorus source, the formula may be 1/3 dical: 2/3 salt. DO NOT over feed phosphorus. If you are in a situation where trace minerals are needed, there are commercial mixes available. Feed only what is needed and not supplied by the diet. As micro-minerals are added to the mix, the cost will increase. In addition, as more of the minerals in the mix are in the chelated form versus the inorganic form, cost will go up. Read the tag for the levels that should be consumed by the cow on a daily basis. For most mineral supplements and the self-mixed mineral supplements mentioned above, 2 to 3 oz/head/day is a typical intake.

There are good commercial mixtures available. There may be a need for some micro-minerals and these needs can be ranch specific. Again, contact your extension person as they will have information on micro-minerals that may be deficient and need to be supplemented in your area.