What Constitutes a Mineral Ration?

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 21 (Supplement)

What Constitutes a Mineral Ration?

The term "minerals" is often heard to-day in relation to concentrates, balanced rations and cattle diets. Scientifically speaking, the composition of a mineral mixture and the amount necessary depends to a very large extent' on a number of factors, such as the rations fed and the output (Taranaki's main concern is milk yield) of the animal. The composition of the soil and the grass and other crops produced may materially alter the composition of the mineral supplement. However, the following mineral mixtures will serve in practical] y all cases:— Sterilised feeding

Dissolve 1 ounce of potassium loaiae in a little water and thoroughly mix this with every hundredweight of the mineral mixture for all animals, but when used for poultry, 2 ounces should be used. For cattle, horses, and sheep and goats (a) is added at the rate of 11b to every 1001b of concentrates fed. For pigs, 21b of (b) is added to every 1001b of the meal. For poultry, 2 to 31b of (a) is added to every 1001b of the mash.

(a) (b) Bone flour 44 parts 40 parts Finely ground limestone 30 ,, 43 „ Common salt 20 „ 10 >■ Flowers of sulphur 5 „ 5 „ Ferric oxide (oxide of iron) 1 » 2 „