The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 16, 2020, 11:30:13 am

Title: Lick buckets or Himalayian rock salt
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 16, 2020, 11:30:13 am

Hi all

i usually give my sheep a couple of lick buckets in the winter months and the pregnant ewes get a ewe and lamb bucket around lambing

i intend to continue to use the ewe and lamb buckets, but wanted to know what people use and if the himalyain Rock salt is a good replacemant for buckets

horses graze in our big paddock and so i dont put buckets out when they graze together.

whats people thoughts?

TIA

Title: Re: Lick buckets or Himalayian rock salt
Post by: twizzel on September 16, 2020, 11:48:38 am

I think the actual trace element/mineral content of rock salt is quite low, so no I wouldn't replace buckets with it. But I would still give them a lump alongside.

Title: Re: Lick buckets or Himalayian rock salt
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 16, 2020, 01:18:20 pm

cheers Twizzel

i shall stick to what i am doing then :-)

Title: Re: Lick buckets or Himalayian rock salt
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 17, 2020, 10:49:00 pm

Yup, we have himalayan rock salt in all fields at all times.  But the sheep have an organic-friendly mineral lick (not a feed block, no soya in it) if they are not with the ponies, and especially when pregnant or lactating.