Stadnina Dexters

At Stadnina Dexters, each of our cattle recieve a twice weekly bail feed containing some supplementary minerals. The mineral mix is based on Pat Coleby's basic lick mix (see the book review, "Natural Cattle Care") and contains;

1. 7kg Dolomite Lime
2. 1kg Powdered Sulphur
3. 1kg Copper Sulphate
4. 1kg Seaweed Meal
5. 1kg Garlic Powder

All of the above ingredients are throughly mixed together, and then stored in an airtight drum.

At each bail feed the cattle are feed (per head per day);

1. 500g lucerne chaff
2. 250g barley seed (or cattle nuts depending on quality of the seed)
3. 30g Mineral Mix (as above)
4. 50ml Apple Cider Vinegar
5. enough water to dampen the whole mix

The above is mixed together throughly and then fed out immediately. Lactating cows recieve a double portion of the above.

This bail feed has quite a strong odour and when it was first offered to the cattle they flatly refused. "What the hell do you expect us to do with this?!?" were the looks I got! :-) But by reducing the odourous components (mineral mix and apple cider vinegar) intially, and then stepping it in over a week we got through that. Now the cattle cannot wait to get into their mix, and I am mobbed everytime I step into the paddock carrying the pail.

As for the efficacy of this mix, well one of the things that Pat Coleby mentions in her book is that parasite problems, be they internal or external, is related to a sulphur deficiency. This would seem to dovetail with traditional wisdom in which we would use garlic for dealing with parasite issues (garlic's active constituents being sulphur based).

In my case two of my cattle, Congo and Dalila, were quite afflicted with cattle lice and both had a few bare patches where they had been rubbing. Nothing over the top, definitely not worthy of pharmaceutical treatment, but noticeable. After being on the above mix (along with the usual diet) for approximately a month the problem has begun to clear up, and the bald patches have all regrown. They are also not rubbing/licking themselves anywhere near as frequently, suggesting that they are feeling less discomfort.

Of course this isn't 'double blind' definitive proof but it certainly gives me a little confidence in this mix.

Cost

Since putting this article on the website I have had quite a few emails asking me if the above costs a lot. Well I thought that I might cost it out for everyone to see. The below costs are the costs of the individual packets on my local feed store shelf... no discounts have been applied.

Mineral Mix

1. 7kg Dolomite Lime - $3.64 ($0.52 per Kg)
2. 1kg Powdered Sulphur - $4.90
3. 1kg Copper Sulphate - $11.40
4. 1kg Seaweed Meal - $9.00
5. 1kg Garlic Powder - $18.00

The total cost of the mineral mix is $46.94 which makes 11kg (220 individual 50g doses). Therefore each dose costs ~$0.21. In comparison, my cattle would go through a 20kg proprietary lick block every 2 weeks, which was costing me $31.00. In the same period 4 cows would use $11.76 of mineral mix. Add to that their apple cider vinegar (~$0.16 per 50ml dose) and the total comes to $20.72. This gives me a saving of about $10 per fortnight, or $260 per year.

OK... it's not a HUGE saving! But remember that they were on the lick block when I had the issues with the lice... those issues went away when I changed to my mineral mix. Saving cash and better performance... that's what I call value.

I have ignored the cost of the feed for the mineral mix as the feed isn't included in the proprietary block. Also, you'd have to feed the animals anyhow, so that doesn't really add anything to the cost.