Schedule: How to Optimize Cattle Mineral Consumption for Each Season
Management : Cow & Calf
Management : Weaned Calf
Nutrition : Minerals
Deciding what mineral to feed cattle doesn’t need to be daunting. A quality, balanced mineral year-round is the first step to ensuring your herd gets the nutrients they need. Then, you can get more specialized with what you provide your herd based on different factors like the time of year, reproductive needs of your herd and forage quality.
The following chart shows which minerals are best to feed at different times of the year.
Seasonality: Spring calving cows have different nutrition requirements than fall calving cows. Also, spring grass is lusher and may warrant providing additional magnesium to limit grass tetany in the herd.
Fly control: How far north or south you’re located can make a big difference on when to start and stop feeding Purina® Wind and Rain® Fly Control mineral. A good rule is to feed 30 days before the last spring frost through 30 days after the last fall frost.
Breeding management: More intensive breeding systems like artificial insemination and embryo transfer require the herd to be in better shape reproductively. Providing a mineral with higher trace mineral bioavailability, such as Purina® Wind and Rain® ProCycle® mineral, is advised in these situations to meet their needs.
Bags vs. tubs: You can choose between Wind and Rain® loose bagged mineral or Wind and Rain® mineral tubs. Loose bags are easier to handle and offer more flexibility in delivery to the cattle. Mineral tubs often require less labor and provide more consistent intakes. It all comes down to personal preference.
All Season Mineral: Mineral and vitamin supplement for cattle on pasture designed to correct mineral deficiencies of the available forage in a highly palatable, weather-resistant, granular form.
Fly Control Mineral: Contains Altosid® (IGR) for the breeding prevention of horn flies in the manure of treated cattle. Also, provides a balanced mineral and vitamin supplement with large particle size and special formulation to keep the mineral from absorbing water and blowing out of the feeder.1
High Magnesium Mineral: Mineral and vitamin supplement designed for cattle grazing lush pastures. A unique manufacturing process ensures more consistent intake and adequate levels of magnesium.
ProCycle® Mineral: Designed to optimize reproductive performance through trace mineral nutrition using a sulfate-free combination of organic and inorganic trace mineral sources, Purina® Wind and Rain® ProCycle® mineral supports cow health, reproductive performance and nutrient absorption during breeding, gestation and lactation.
Work with your local Purina® dealer to decide which cattle mineral works best for your operation.
Does your cattle nutrition program stack up? Find out with a Proof Pays trial.
The following chart shows which minerals are best to feed at different times of the year.
Cattle mineral considerations
When making a cattle mineral selection decision, work with your Purina® dealer to think through these additional considerations based on your herd’s specific needs:Seasonality: Spring calving cows have different nutrition requirements than fall calving cows. Also, spring grass is lusher and may warrant providing additional magnesium to limit grass tetany in the herd.
Fly control: How far north or south you’re located can make a big difference on when to start and stop feeding Purina® Wind and Rain® Fly Control mineral. A good rule is to feed 30 days before the last spring frost through 30 days after the last fall frost.
Breeding management: More intensive breeding systems like artificial insemination and embryo transfer require the herd to be in better shape reproductively. Providing a mineral with higher trace mineral bioavailability, such as Purina® Wind and Rain® ProCycle® mineral, is advised in these situations to meet their needs.
Bags vs. tubs: You can choose between Wind and Rain® loose bagged mineral or Wind and Rain® mineral tubs. Loose bags are easier to handle and offer more flexibility in delivery to the cattle. Mineral tubs often require less labor and provide more consistent intakes. It all comes down to personal preference.
Pick a mineral
Purina offers a variety of minerals that can be used during different times of the year. Here are some details on some of the minerals you’ll want to consider:All Season Mineral: Mineral and vitamin supplement for cattle on pasture designed to correct mineral deficiencies of the available forage in a highly palatable, weather-resistant, granular form.
Fly Control Mineral: Contains Altosid® (IGR) for the breeding prevention of horn flies in the manure of treated cattle. Also, provides a balanced mineral and vitamin supplement with large particle size and special formulation to keep the mineral from absorbing water and blowing out of the feeder.1
High Magnesium Mineral: Mineral and vitamin supplement designed for cattle grazing lush pastures. A unique manufacturing process ensures more consistent intake and adequate levels of magnesium.
ProCycle® Mineral: Designed to optimize reproductive performance through trace mineral nutrition using a sulfate-free combination of organic and inorganic trace mineral sources, Purina® Wind and Rain® ProCycle® mineral supports cow health, reproductive performance and nutrient absorption during breeding, gestation and lactation.
Work with your local Purina® dealer to decide which cattle mineral works best for your operation.
Does your cattle nutrition program stack up? Find out with a Proof Pays trial.
1 Altosid® is a trademark of Wellmark International.
