Loose Minerals

[CTChick]

As prices on EVERYTHING continue to escalate, I am writing to ask if anyone has alternatives to the packaged loose minerals at Benedict's or Tractor supply. An 8-lb bag runs beween $16 up - lasts me about 3 weeks between my 4 goats. I know the blocks aren't good because they chew them and its bad for their teeth. One breeder (at a fair we went to recently) told me about something called "Sunshine 100?" sprinkled on food every few days to add Selenium and other minerals to the diet.

So - my question is what are you all doing to ensure proper minerals are added to your goats diet? As I live in the Northeast, Selenium is a concern - although I understand too much is every bit as bad as not enough!

Laura

 

[20kidsonhill]

If you have a dealer for cargill cattle feeds in your area the cargill Right Now Onyx loose minerals for cattle are good for goats. You can look it up on-line to see if there is a dealer near you.C
Sweetlix meat makers minerals are in a 25 lb bag and sell for about $13.00, Again you can look them up on-line and see where the closest dealer is to you for sweetlix

another pretty good brand is Ultralyx minerals for goats.

Another option is sweetlix protein tub for goats Called Sweetlix Meatmaker roughage balancer poured, comes in a 50 lb tub. And in our area costs $26.00 http://www.sweetlix.com/products/C14A34/meat-maker-products.aspx

 

[Goatherd]

I just bought Sweetlix minerals on Saturday an paid $16 for 25#. My 7 take a long time to finish a bag.

Forgot to say I buy them from an independent feed store.

 

[Catahoula]

If you have a dealer for cargill cattle feeds in your area the cargill Right Now Onyx loose minerals for cattle are good for goats. You can look it up on-line to see if there is a dealer near you.C
Sweetlix meat makers minerals are in a 25 lb bag and sell for about $13.00, Again you can look them up on-line and see where the closest dealer is to you for sweetlix

another pretty good brand is Ultralyx minerals for goats.

Another option is sweetlix protein tub for goats Called Sweetlix Meatmaker roughage balancer poured, comes in a 50 lb tub. And in our area costs $26.00 http://www.sweetlix.com/products/C14A34/meat-maker-products.aspx

20Kidsonhill, are you feeding your goats the Onyx minerals? I am ordering a 50 lb bag but it will take couple weeks. I suspect my kids might have some mild copper deficiency. I am reading a lot of positive reviews and can't wait to try it.

 

[that's*satyrical]

That is a lot for the 8lb bag of minerals. It's 9.99 for the 8lb manna pro goat mineral here at TSC. Serious mark up going on there!!

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I think I paid $23 for a 25 lb bag of Sweetlix Magnum Milk loose minerals. I am in CA by the way.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would take the label of the loose mineral you like and compare to other minerals in your area and find something like it.

 

[20kidsonhill]

If you have a dealer for cargill cattle feeds in your area the cargill Right Now Onyx loose minerals for cattle are good for goats. You can look it up on-line to see if there is a dealer near you.C
Sweetlix meat makers minerals are in a 25 lb bag and sell for about $13.00, Again you can look them up on-line and see where the closest dealer is to you for sweetlix

another pretty good brand is Ultralyx minerals for goats.

Another option is sweetlix protein tub for goats Called Sweetlix Meatmaker roughage balancer poured, comes in a 50 lb tub. And in our area costs $26.00 http://www.sweetlix.com/products/C14A34/meat-maker-products.aspx

20Kidsonhill, are you feeding your goats the Onyx minerals? I am ordering a 50 lb bag but it will take couple weeks. I suspect my kids might have some mild copper deficiency. I am reading a lot of positive reviews and can't wait to try it.

yes, we have used it. The goats loved it. I switch between three minerals, Sweetlix meatmaker, Cargil right Now Onyx and a Tennessee Forage Master brand that one of our local feed stores carry. They really like the cargil, I was worried about the fact that the cargill Label states only iron oxide in the ingredients, and unless I am missing it, I don't see any other source of iron in it. Iron Oxide is pretty much a waste of time.

Co-op Forage Master Goat mineral has Ferrous Sulfate in it and kelp Meal, which is nice. But the ratio of Calcium to phosphorus reads 8% on the phosphorus and 11 to 13% on the Calcium. That is a terrible ratio for wethers, so I have decided to not use this one, when my wethers are in the field with the does.

The Sweetlix MeatMaker has the best looking label, but honestly the goats don't seem to like it as much. Maybe it is adjusted so they don't eat as much, because the quality is better. Not sure about that. It also seems to absorb moisture worse than the other two minerals. And since I leave mine out in mineral feeders, not sure I like that. But they do seem to still eat it. And I have heard a lot of great reviews about it. And the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio is the best of the three. So this is my choice when I have my wethers still with mom and I am feeding everyone together in a big group.

Hope that helped.

 

[Catahoula]

yes, we have used it. The goats loved it. I switch between three minerals, Sweetlix meatmaker, Cargil right Now Onyx and a Tennessee Forage Master brand that one of our local feed stores carry. They really like the cargil, I was worried about the fact that the cargill Label states only iron oxide in the ingredients, and unless I am missing it, I don't see any other source of iron in it. Iron Oxide is pretty much a waste of time.

Co-op Forage Master Goat mineral has Ferrous Sulfate in it and kelp Meal, which is nice. But the ratio of Calcium to phosphorus reads 8% on the phosphorus and 11 to 13% on the Calcium. That is a terrible ratio for wethers, so I have decided to not use this one, when my wethers are in the field with the does.

The Sweetlix MeatMaker has the best looking label, but honestly the goats don't seem to like it as much. Maybe it is adjusted so they don't eat as much, because the quality is better. Not sure about that. It also seems to absorb moisture worse than the other two minerals. And since I leave mine out in mineral feeders, not sure I like that. But they do seem to still eat it. And I have heard a lot of great reviews about it. And the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio is the best of the three. So this is my choice when I have my wethers still with mom and I am feeding everyone together in a big group.

Hope that helped.

I find when it comes to goats...nothing make sense! I am suspecting my kids has a bit copper deficiency... From reading more about it, I found that there are many different reasons that could prevent a goat from absorbing copper. I also found that many people like the onyx minerals. It is not easy for me to get some but I did find it. I plan to leave all different minerals out to see what happens. They also get kelp meals. I want to try different routes before the copper bulus. Our current minerals is made specifically because of our CO soil...so that what the company said.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Newbie question here, how do I offer the minerals? A bowl? How much at a time? I only have one goat. She is sad and lonely, I am working on another.