With so many mineral products to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select the right mineral program for your herd. Use this simple guide to help as you consider Purina cattle mineral options.
A high-quality cattle mineral program can kill two birds with one stone by providing necessary nutrition and addressing challenges. Challenges can include grass tetany, fly control for cows, cow fertility and fescue pasture.
Mineral for fly control:
Purina® Wind and Rain® Fly Control Mineral contains Altosid® IGR (insect growth regulator). Which, consequently, interrupts the lifecycle of costly horn flies. For optimal fly control for cows, feed this mineral 30 days before the last frost in the spring and 30 days after the first frost in the fall.
Mineral with high magnesium:
Purina® Wind and Rain® Hi-Mag Mineral is ideal when grazing lush spring grass, often associated with a higher grass tetany risk. Having mineral with the additional magnesium prevents the risk of grass tetany occurring. Grass tetany is a regional challenge, so it will depend on your forage situation.
Mineral for fescue pasture:
If you’re grazing fescue pasture, Purina® Wind and Rain® Fescue Mineral is a great option to compensate for nutritional deficiencies in the forage.
Mineral for breeding support:
Purina® Wind and Rain® ProCycle® Mineral is for herds striving for optimal reproductive and performance results. ProCycle® Mineral contains a premium package of inorganic and organic trace mineral sources created for high bioavailability. In addition, it contains the feed additive PuriFerm™ that aids in fiber digestion, which allows cattle to get more out of forages in their diet.
Mineral for the summer season:
Purina® Wind and Rain® Summer Season Mineral helps cattle during times of metabolic stress and maintains consistent consumption for optimized performance during summer months. It contains a proprietary blend of ingredients, including live yeast, chromium, essential oils and organic zinc, to support energy metabolism and a balanced rumen pH. Plus, it is formulated with natural flavors and lower phosphorus fortification (6%) for enhanced taste.
Mineral for any season:
Purina® Wind and Rain® All Season™ Mineral works in many different situations. It’s formulated with macro-minerals (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, chloride, sulfur and magnesium) and micro-minerals (iron, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, manganese and cobalt) to meet cattle needs whether they’re grazing or consuming stored forage. This mineral is balanced for year-round use and can be fed to cows, bulls, stockers and calves.
Weatherized minerals
All Wind and Rain® Mineral formulas contain weatherization technology, which prevents mineral from “bricking up” when it becomes wet and also to reduce shrink due to weather. Each bag and tub of Purina cattle mineral are designed for palatability to achieve optimal mineral intake. For mineral supplementation to be successful, cattle must consume the mineral.
Each Wind and Rain® Mineral option listed above has hundreds of mineral formulations created to fit specific regions across the country. Your local sales representative can help determine the best formulation for you.
Other considerations
Purina cattle mineral products come in loose bagged mineral or cooked mineral tubs. Mineral tubs often require less labor and more consistent intakes. However, loose bags can be easier to handle and offer more flexibility in delivery to the cattle.
Consider including feed additives to help meet your herd’s requirements. Availa® 4 is an organic trace mineral pack that contains zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt. Organic trace minerals are more bioavailable. In addition, they can efficiently support cattle health and cow fertility. Importantly and especially when mineral needs are greater, such a pre-calving and breeding seasons.
North Fulton Feed & Seed offers Purina cattle mineral year-round. When cattle, particularly cows, do not have access to mineral, they can experience suboptimal performance and quickly use up vitamins and mineral stores in their body. Keep in mind, mineral nutrition benefits the cow, her calf at side and even the developing fetus. In conclusion, no matter what season, mineral supplementation is important.