[raygezer]

 hi could anybody tell me if there are good ones or better ones from cornwall farmers or mole valley farmers ! i have eight ewes how many would i need ? many thanx

[Marches Farmer]

Merchants will often do their own bucket with minerals specific to their own area - around here Wynnstay do one for Herefordshire, which presumably addresses imbalances in our particular soil.  As to amount, difficult to say.  Our Badger Face ignore them once the novelty's worn off and the Southdowns generally pick a little each day.    The number we used bumped down about 40% once we cottoned on to the fact that badgers were helping themselves to liberal amounts overnight.  We now put the lids on the buckets and put them behind a V-shape of well tied down hurdles next to the fence each night.  If you're really worried it could be worth getting the vet to do a blood test of a sample of sheep (selection of ages) - he may recommend a bolus or drench instead.

[Foobar]

I can recommend Supalyx Extra Energy with Fish Oils, MVF do a similar one.  One tub should be fine for your 8, and it'll last quite a while.
(Fish oils are good for supporting embryo implantation apparently)

[Hillview Farm]

I know its not pre tupping but the pre lambing buckets I use called lifeline. I had 6 ewes and they went mad for them! they were getting through one a week and they are nearly 20kg each! I think I used 7-8 buckets in 6 weeks pre lambing. It al depends on how much your ewes like there licks!

[Foobar]

There are two kinds of buckets, mineral supplements and feed buckets (you can tell the difference by looking at the protein content in them, for mineral supplements it'll be <3% but for feed buckets it'll be 12-18%).  For tupping (and/or pre-lambing) you want a feed bucket.


The other main brand is Crystalyx, they do a red tub called Extra High Energy.


Some sheep are greedy as Hillview Farm points out, but if you find they are eating it too fast then check that they have enough forage and try putting the lid on it overnight to restrict their intake.  Crystalyx claim you should be aiming for 150g per ewe per day for say tupping, and 200g pre-lambing.  But of course that will depend on your forage and the weather etc.


Some tubs also contain Urea which is supposed to encourage the sheep to eat off all the lesser quality grass I think (but I stand to be corrected ).

[Backinwellies]

hmmm ..... think I am starting to understand this now ............ any more info anyone  as these mineral/feed buckets are a maze of contents and advertising ................. what to give to out wintered sheep and cattle to suppliment grazing?

[Foobar]

These are handy leaflets:
http://www.rumenco.co.uk/pdfs/SUPAlyx_Leaflet_2012_March.pdf
http://www.rumenco.co.uk/pdfs/Rumevite_Leaflet_2012a.pdf
http://www.rumenco.co.uk/pdfs/Rumenco_Beetlic_Leaflet_2011.pdf


Not sure if Crystalyx do ones that cattle and sheep can share.


The MVF ones can be shared between cattle and sheep I think ... have a look here: http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/info/farming/Blocks_Buckets




Countrywide also do some (I've not used these as I've never been impressed with the quality of their feeds):
http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/Content.ice?page=AgricultureAlternativeFeedsSpecialityMinerals2&pgForward=businesscontentfull



(it is a maze. I have to admit to making up a spreadsheet with all the mineral analysis for each one on so that I could compare!  sad I know! )

[Bramblecot]

Ooh!  Re your spreadsheet.  Could you save us all a lot of work and share it please  .  Mine love the lifeline feed buckets

[SteveHants]

hmmm ..... think I am starting to understand this now ............ any more info anyone  as these mineral/feed buckets are a maze of contents and advertising ................. what to give to out wintered sheep and cattle to suppliment grazing?

Mineral bucket + hay.