Loose minerals, which one?

[Pamela]

Today, while I was at Cal stores getting baby chicks, I asked about loose minerals. They had 2 different kinds, a trace mineral and a trace mineral plus selenium. The problem was that the bag said for horses and cattle. I asked 2 different employees who shrugged their shoulders and said they imagined either would be fine for goats. Ugh. I don't want to go off of someone's imagination! My girlies don't like the mineral blocks, so I want to try loose. My first doe is due Monday(ish) so I'd like to have some minerals available for her ASAP. I also bought iodine, that stuff is spendy! So, which minerals are safe to use for goat's?

 

[lkmartin1230]

They have 20 lbs. Bags of mineral you can buy. I would NOT suggest getting stuff suggested for horses or cows. I have cows, goats, and horses, and most of the stuff you can feed a horse you can't feed a cow or goat. But if you absolutely need it get something meant for cows, their stomachs are more similar to goats.

 

[Pamela]

These both said for cattle and horses. So do I get the one with selenium or without?

 

[lkmartin1230]

I would do no selenium. But that's totally up to you. I wish I had a clear cut answer. I have only ever used some meant for goats.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

If your area and the feed you have for your goats, is selenium deficient, you will want the one with selenium. We are very deficient in california and I have to supplement with selenium injections (and copper boluses) several times a year. Sweetlix minerals for goats is a good one and it is what I use (both the magnum milk and the meatmaker versions). I have read that onyx by cargill (for cattle) is supposed to be good for goats, but haven't tried it as it is not available near me.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Most places are selenium deficient and even in those that are not, other things can contribute to absorption. I would use on that had it if you can't get ones meant for goats. Take a pic of the content label and compare it to that of say Sweetlix or another goat mineral.

Iodine--don't buy it from a farm store. I have found that things like that are much less expensive at the grocery store.

 

[Pamela]

That's good to know about the iodine. I have 8 children, and have never, in 22 years of parenting, needed iodine! The stuff at the farm store was about $30 for 16 oz! YIKES! It better last me a very long time. I am going to inquire about the minerals at our feed store. They tend to be more knowledgeable about everything. They just aren't open on Saturdays, which seems to be my most available day recently.

 

[OneFineAcre]

You might want to see if your feed store can order you some goat mineral
My goat mineral is higher in selenium copper and zinc than most cattle mineral
Would be good to see the label
Not likely that anything in Cattle mineral that would be bad for goats