- Rough coats
- Decreased performance
- Unusual eating habits like consuming dirt or chewing on tool handles, trees, board fences or another animal’s mane or tail.
- In poultry, an increase in pecking behavior, feather eating, general flock nervousness, and/or reduced egg production.
What are the symptoms of copper mineral deficiency in animals?
- Anemia
- Fence and bark chewing
- In sheep, abnormalities of the wool
- In cattle, loss of hair coat color
- In calves, blood vessel problems
- In young animals, bone development issues
What are the symptoms of iodine mineral deficiency in animals?
- Enlarged thyroid gland; goiter swell
- Metabolic disorders; decrease in metabolic rate
- Hair loss
- Dry and scaly skin
What are the symptoms of cobalt mineral deficiency in animals?
- Lack of appetite
- Poor growth
- In sheep, decrease in wool production and growth
- In ruminants, vitamin B12 deficiency
How much salt does my pig/swine need?
The amount of salt needed will vary based on gender and type, although no more than one-half percent will likely be needed.
- Pre-Starter (birth to 25 lbs. in body weight): Up to 15 lbs = 0.1% and 15-25 lbs = 0.2% salt
- Starter (a young pig between 25 and 50 lbs. in body weight): Between 0.4-0.5% salt
- Growing and Finishing (pig between 50 and 250 lbs): 0.25% salt
- Sow (adult female): 0.5% salt
Why feed trace minerals with salt to animals?
Salt is one of the few minerals that animals will seek out in their natural environment. There are seven trace minerals essential in feed: iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine, and selenium. Since livestock have a natural appetite for salt, but not for trace minerals, this makes salt an ideal medium to deliver these vital minerals.
Is water softener salt harmful to animals?
Water softening salts are not intended for human or animal feeding. For some animals, particles may be too large and cause choking issues. In addition, some water softening salts may have additives that are inappropriate for animal feeds.
How does sodium deprivation occur in animals?
Sodium deprivation can be precipitated by dietary, climatic and disease factors and occurs under the following conditions:
- Rapidly growing animals given cereal-based diets that are inherently low in sodium
- Animals grazing pastures on soils naturally low in sodium
- Animals grazing pastures heavily fertilized with potassium
- Lactating animals, particularly cows, secreting large amounts of sodium in mild climates
- Tropical or hot, semi-arid climates, causing large losses of water and sodium in sweat
- Heavy or intense physical work that causes profuse sweating
- Animals with gut infections that cause diarrhea
When one or more of these conditions exist continuously for long periods and extra salt is not provided, sodium deprivation is inevitable.
White Salt Licks
Compressed white salt licks in the form of blocks. Economical and efficient means of introducing salt into the animals’ diet. This salt lick in the form of a block is intended for beef cattle, dairy cows, horses, goats, pigs, deer and sheep. Salt licks are weather resistant for free choice feeding.
Available Forms:
50 lb block (22.7 kg block)
Rancher’s Stock® Salt
A medium-screened bagged sodium chloride solar salt recommended for use as a stock salt for animal feeding. This salt product is intended for beef cattle, dairy cows, horses, goats, pigs, and sheep. Best if used with free-choice feeding programs.
Available Form:
50 lb bag (22.7 kg bag)