We raise goats and just started a few steers this year. The does that are milking are in a separate area and we keep a mineral block with them. We have steers and kids in another pasture. I bought a bag of trace minerals for the cattle and wonder if it's OK to put them out where the goats will get them too? Should I use the sheep/goat blocks everywhere instead, are they good(enough) for the steers? Thanks

-- Paul (pbray@tds.net), August 05, 2001

Answers

Paul anything with sheep on it is not only not good enough for your cows but it isn't even close for a goat! We use loose cattle minerals for our Nubians, and I don't have cows :) A 50 pound block of minerals may last you a year, that is a lot of licking where my adult milkers will go through 50 pounds of loose minerals in a month. If they aren't getting enough vitamins and minerals, especially copper you will have poor quality skin and hair, bald tail tips, they don't clean as well after kidding, and with improved copper in your goats you will have does with excellent worm resistance. I would think the loose minerals would be better for your cattle also. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 05, 2001.