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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:48 pm
by ann
I wondered if anyone else was finding that their dexters are consuming far more minerals this year. The only reason I can think for this increase is that due to the wet summer maybe the silage which in all other respects is excellent is lacking in some minerals or is it the lack of sunshine 
I've almost forgot what the sun looks like 
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:27 am
by Saffy
If you have the type of mineral that is made in a block with large amounts of sweet substances they may also be after that, as silage made on a very miserable time will also be likely to be lower on sugars. Cows like sweet things in any case!
Stephanie
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:47 pm
by davidw
At our last Midlands Dexter meeting, the speaker told us that last autumn was the worst he had experienced for mineral and particularly magnesium deficiency. Presumably the forage that was gathered last year is also low in minerals and so your stock is taking what they need from the licks etc.
David Williams
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:33 pm
by nuttalls
hi ann, would it be possible to email me again then we can join northern dexters. my computer skills are not very good tried last time thanks jean jordeth. chris_nuttall@bt internet.com
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:47 pm
by Saffy
It is important to remember that cattle take minerals mostly because the taste has been disguised and the lick made to taste nice with something sweet and not because they know they need it. Therefore although a great deal may be going from the mineral block there could be an individual animal taking none. This is why I am giving my cattle Magnesium rolls.
Stephanie
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:22 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
I agree with Stepanie's comments on this one, cattle cannot tell which mineral they need. I have seen an assortment of 12 individual minerals in separate troughs for cows to take, and the ony ones they took were salt (sodium choride) and sodium bicarbonate. All the others like magnesium, copper, cobalt, calcium and phosporus were more or less ignored. I do use a tub for some of the year but coming close to calving (April) I will discontinue hay as grass appears, and use magnesium rolls till after they are all calved a month or more.
This winter 12 dexters (5 cows, 3 heifer calves, and 4 year or two year steers have grazed 13 acres old grass, as the grass went down they ate more hay and were at 2 small bales between them daily when I moved them and took away the heifer calves. They went to 9 acres old grass very similar but not grazed since August. Hay consumption down to less than a bale a day, mineral bucket has gone down more in 3 weeks than in the last 3 months. Hay consumption is rising as the grass is eaten.
Duncan