There is a reluctance sometimes for farmers to supplement minerals in a diet due to cost, uncertainty of effect if investment is made and large ingredient level tolerances in a mineral mix. Especially in the current economic climate you need to ensure that you are not wasting your valuable cash.

But some of the most basic minerals required by livestock e.g. calcium in the form of limestone flour or Sodium in the form of rock salt are cheaper per tonne (in bags) than most straight feeds.

Farmers sometimes get sold a mineral mix (costing 3-4 times that of a straight mineral) to cover the deficiency of one mineral when a straight mineral would do at a third of the cost.  Note that limestone flour being alkaline, acts as a buffer in an acidic diet also.

Get your livestock diet checked and at least ensure the main Macrominerals like Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium and Sodium are in sufficient quantity in the diet.

Contact your local FCG office or gerardfinnan@fcgagric.com for an independent nutrition assessment of your animal diet.