Iam feeding my cattle a free choice mineral it went up $8 a 100# in the last couple months.Is there any other cheeper option I have to give them with the same type of minerals?
Not an easy question to answer. From a nutritional, mineral and mineral needs of beef cattle is probably the least understood. The reason for this is that some minerals can be store in the body when their intake is above the need, then released when intake is below need. Mineral needs also are influenced by mineral make-up of the forage or diet being consumed. Protein and energy content of the diet is important in mineral absorption. Proteins aid in the absorption and transport of minerals across the intestinal wall for use by the animal. In general, inorganic sources are the most cost-effective means of supplying minerals to a beef cow. However, inorganic mineral sources are not all created equal. Research suggests that sulfate and chloride forms of various minerals are the most bioavailable, followed by carbonates, with oxides being the least bioavailable. One exception to this rule of thumb is copper oxide. When the powdered or granular form of copper oxide is included in a mineral
