MINERALS FOR STOCK.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 November 1929, Page 6

MINERALS FOR STOCK.

FREE-CHOICE FEEDING. Results of Investigations. An investigation extended over four seasons, to establish whether dairy cows would voluntarily consume necessary minerals from a self-feeder on a free-choice basis, is dealt with by an Australian agricultural paper. The result of the trial suggested that either the rations supplied were not deficient in calcium and phosphorous, or the bonemeal and ground limestone were so unpalatable that the cows refused tq eat them despite any craving they may have had for the elements.

Cows of moderate to good production ability, and their daughters, were chosen for the test. They were confin-, ed in barns and dry lots throughout the test. The ration used consisted of maize silage, legume hay and a grain

mixture. During the first two years,. \ finely ground limestone and common 4 salt were placed in separate, compartments. The third year bonemeal was added in a separate compartment. Both this product and the ground limestone were mixed .with salt at the rat© of four parts to one part of salt. W r hen no mineral supplement was I fed in the yard, bone meal and salt | were incorporated in the grain mixture at the rate of 1.5 per cent, each When | supplements were fed, 1 per cent, of J salt was added to the ration. It was g l found that 1 per cent of salt in the ■ , grain ration did not satisfy the craving \of the cattle for this mineral. When 1 they allowed salt in a self-feeder they i consumed rather larger quantities of i ifc * j No particular desire for the two J other mineral supplements were manifested when they were offered free J choice. This caused the people in j charge of the experiment to conclude | that either the ration was not deficient .j in calcium or phosphorus, or the proj ducts were so unpalatable when offered j free choice that the cattle refused to * * cat appreciable amounts of them.