When it comes to mineral supplements for cattle, the focus often lands on spring and fall, and for good reason. These seasons bring significant demands on your herd, whether it’s calving or preparing for winter. However, it’s crucial to remember that your cattle’s mineral needs are a year-round affair. If you’re not attentive during the summer, you could be overlooking a vital aspect of their care.
Summer is a pivotal period, especially for breeding. Most ranchers plan for calves in the spring, which means cows are bred during the hotter months. And here’s the critical point: a cow that’s deficient in minerals is less likely to breed back on time—or at all. This is a costly miss. Therefore, ensuring they receive the right minerals now isn’t just beneficial, it’s absolutely essential.
Summer is tricky because it’s kind of a “transition season.” The lush spring grass starts to mature, and as it does, it loses some of its nutritional punch. So, just when your cows’ mineral needs are going up, the grass isn’t giving them what it used to. That gap has to be filled somehow.
So, how do you stay ahead of the game? How do you make your mineral program work for your herd—not just in spring and fall, but during summer, too? Don’t worry; I have three simple tips to help you get it right. They’re practical, doable, and make a real difference in your cows’ health and productivity.
Let’s dive into them.
Summer’s a Big Deal: Breeding, Heat, and Lower-Quality Grass
Summer might feel like things are rolling along just fine, but it’s actually one of the busiest and most demanding times of the year for your herd. For most ranchers, summer lines up with breeding season.
That means your cows aren’t just grazing—they’re working. And when cows are bred, their bodies need more nutrients to support reproduction and overall health.
But here’s the catch: while your cows’ needs are climbing, your pastures are starting to lose steam. As summer wears on, grasses mature and begin to go to seed. When that happens, their nutritional value drops. So you’ve got a double challenge—cows that need more and grass that’s giving less.
This one-two punch can catch you off guard if you’re not vigilant. Mineral deficiencies don’t always manifest overnight, but they can silently erode your herd’s performance. Cows may take longer to breed back—or worse, not at all. And if you’re relying solely on pasture, you could be leaving a critical gap in their nutrition. This underscores the need for proactive care and attention to your herd’s mineral needs.
That’s why mineral supplementation in the summer isn’t just a nice extra—it’s a key part of keeping your herd on track. A well-balanced mineral program helps support reproductive health, immune function, and overall productivity. It’s one of those minor adjustments that can pay off significantly down the line.
So, how do you stay ahead of the game and ensure your cattle don’t fall behind during the heat of summer? Stick around—let’s break it down with a few simple tips that can make a real difference.
Tip #1: Feed the Right Kind of Mineral This Summer
As a cattle owner, you play a crucial role in providing the right kind of mineral supplementation in the right amounts. Knowing what minerals your forages are providing is essential for delivering the right type and in the right amounts. As with any supplementation, the key is to only “fill in the gaps.” By taking this responsibility seriously, you can ensure the health and productivity of your herd.
Since we are dealing with different types of forages in various soil types, you can’t find a one-size-fits-all kind of solution here. Even with the same types of environments, things such as rainfall, grazing patterns, and fertilization can also affect mineral output. Because you are dealing with many different environmental factors, you won’t be able to provide all the needed nutrients naturally. A study performed by North Dakota State and South Dakota State called Mineral Nutrition for Livestock Producers found that every pasture was deficient in at least one mineral.
What kinds of minerals need to be added?
A common mineral lacking during this time of year is Phosphorus. This mineral is essential for growth, milk production, and fertility. Other minerals that may be deficient include Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc. Common symptoms of a deficiency are breeding problems, like reduced conception rates and reduced average daily gains. You will typically want to supplement these minerals year-round since demand is high during spring calving to breeding season. Once you get past breeding season, you will want to continue supplementing because levels in forage decrease as they mature.
It would be best to have your forages tested to know what is being provided at your place. A producer can do this test through a forage analysis, which measures the nutrient content of the forage. Since water and other supplements also offer minerals, you should have those tested, too. Because we can deal with different scenarios from one year to the next, it is a good idea to test these multiple years in a row so you can know the average for your place.
Once you know what you need to provide, there are a couple of options, such as one-free-choice mineral or two-free-choice mineral. The one-free-choice mineral option is where you give only one type of mineral throughout the entire year. While this is easier on paper, it is usually not the best option. You will need to make adjustments based on changing conditions throughout the year. For example, during the summer, when the nutritional value of forage decreases, you may need to increase the amount of mineral supplementation. This could mean increasing the frequency of mineral feeding or providing a higher concentration of minerals. Two or more would be the better option, as it allows for more flexibility in adjusting the type and amount of minerals provided.
Tip #2: Make Sure They’re Eating the Mineral
Now that we have determined what minerals you need to provide, we can feed them. Simply providing mineral supplements is only sufficient if your cattle consume enough. To ensure that your cattle consume enough mineral supplements, you can consider strategies such as mixing the supplements with their regular feed, providing the supplements in a palatable form, and monitoring the consumption rate. This last point is crucial, as it allows you to ensure that your herd is getting the right amount of minerals, which is essential for their health and productivity. This part may take a little trial and error to find the sweet spot you are looking for.
When planning how to provide a mineral supplement, you will need to decide the quantity of what is being put out in your pasture. A good rule of thumb is that you want one feeding station for every 20-25 head of cattle. However, one station per 25 heads is not a hard and fast rule, so you may have to make adjustments based on your needs.
Where to put the cattle mineral
A supplement only does good if your cattle can find it. Another step is to place the feeding station near where cattle typically are. Typically, you will look at areas near a water source, such as a trough or stock tank.
Once they start eating it, you must monitor the consumption rate. You can figure this out by taking the total amount that is consumed and dividing it by the number of heads. For example, if you provide 100 pounds of mineral and you have 20 heads of cattle, each head should consume 5 pounds. Once you have that figured out, compare it to the conception rate on the feed tag. If it is too much or too little, you will need to move the feeding station to get the correct amount.
Now that your animals are eating the mineral you are providing well enough, you can use it to better utilize your pastures. You can move the station to parts of the field that are being grazed less to distribute grazing better. I discuss how to do this in a previous article, “Better Grazing with Supplements.”
Tip #3: Choose Minerals That Actually Work
As you may have guessed, not all minerals are created equal. Some may be cheaper, have better absorption, and things like that. Doing your homework in this area would be best to see what will work best for you. When choosing a mineral supplement, consider factors such as the mineral content, the form of the mineral (organic or inorganic), and the cost. It’s essential to find a balance between quality and affordability.
You will have to put pen to paper to see what kind will work best for your budget and your cattle. You will need to find a delicate balance between absorbability and price. I do not recommend that you go with just the “cheapest” option because that will only end up costing you.
What to Look For:
- Bioavailability (absorbability) – How well the cow’s body absorbs the mineral.
- Form of the mineral – Organic minerals (like sulfates or chelates) are generally more available than inorganic ones (like oxides).
- Source listed on the label – This tells you where the mineral comes from. For example:
- Organic: sulfate, chloride, chelated forms – better absorption
- Inorganic: oxide forms – cheaper, but often poorly absorbed
What is absorbability, you ask? Well, absorbability determines how much of the mineral consumed is actually absorbed by the cow. A few factors can affect this, such as the source of the mineral and what minerals are provided.
When we talk about the mineral “source,” there are generally two types: organic and inorganic. Organic minerals, such as sulfates or chlorides, have better absorbability than inorganic minerals, which are usually oxides. Reading the label on your bag of minerals will tell you where the mineral comes from, helping you choose the right type for your cattle.
If you are still deciding which one to go with, there is help. It would help if you talked with a nutritionist to determine what will work best for you. Remember, supplementing is an investment in your operation, so you want to do it where you will get the most return on that investment.
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