The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: vfr400boy on March 27, 2020, 10:14:43 am
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Am almost ready to get my lambs,
Just wondering what the best mineral block is and price etc ? I have a farm supplies shop nr me and bata not to far a way
Thanks
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Depends what you need a mineral lick for. If it’s just general purpose minerals get whatever the shop has in but ensure it’s for sheep (no copper) I use mole valley foot and fertility licks as a basic mineral bucket, we have had issues with B1 deficiency so ensure the sheep have access to buckets containing this.
If there’s no known deficiencies then a rockies salt lick will be fine- someone will be along later to say which one you need as some have copper in and aren’t suitable for sheep.
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Mine just have a Supalyx GP sheep lick bucket with a high energy one when heavy in lamb/fresh lambed.
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We use lumps of Himalayan rock salt for everything now. £10 a sack, lasts well if you put it an a container which drains, and even better if you can put it under cover.
I only get mineral buckets now for pre-calving cows and pre-lambing ewes. For the latter, we use Mole Valley's own "suitable for organic systems" Rumigan range (no soya or other cereal) general purpose lick (ok for cattle and sheep at any stage).
Be aware that some licks are molassed minerals, which may or may not also have a cereal content, and some are out and out feed blocks.
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Were do you find it for £10 a sack just looking on Ebay and £22 is the cheapest for 25kg still not expensive I guess
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Most feed merchants- mole valley is just over £6 for 25kg, so £22 is very expensive. The mineral content of rock salt is negligible but the salt does encourage water intake which in turn makes animals eat more, and will help with acidosis in cattle.
As sally says some buckets are just minerals with a small amount of molasses to help palatability- these have very little feed content (look at energy and protein levels). Some will have extra energy and protein- these are more of a feed bucket than just for mineral content. A general purpose sheep bucket will suffice for lambs, they shouldn’t need any kind of energy or protein until the autumn if you want to finish them before winter.
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Were do you find it for £10 a sack just looking on Ebay and £22 is the cheapest for 25kg still not expensive I guess
Your agri merchant should have it. Here (http://[url=http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/rock-salt-in-lumps-bag)'s Mole Valley's.
The mineral content of rock salt is negligible
It's true that 96-98% of the lump is sodium chloride, which is why it is called salt ;)
The Himalayan stuff is unrefined, comes straight to you having been hewn from the rock by hand, and that 2-4% includes around 84 different things.
Trace elements in drenches, licks (and your vitamin tablets) and so on are so called because there is a trace of them, but that trace can have a significant effect on health. ;)
At the price, I cannot fathom why everyone doesn't at least try it and make their own decision about its efficacy for their stock on their land. I did, and would not now be without it in every field, year round. ;)
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i use crystalix ewe and lamb, £19