By Travis Meteer
Most cattlemen know that minerals are important and feed them in some way to their cattle herd. Minerals play critical roles in immune function, the reproductive system, and growth and development. While we talk a lot about mineral needs, the method of delivery is vital to a successful mineral supplementation program.
Free-choice mineral: With this method, minerals are offered free choice in a feeder where cattle consume minerals as needed. This is the most common method of mineral supplementation and is very familiar to producers. It provides continuous access to cattle, allowing it to work well in grazing systems. It is important to keep in mind that intake can vary among animals, with some consuming too much and some consuming too little. It’s always important to monitor consumption.
Mineral block is just that: minerals, or salt and minerals, compressed into a block. It’s convenient, weather-resistant, and easy to place in a pasture. Consumption will be slower than loose minerals and intake can be inconsistent even for the individual.
Mineral premix for a Total Mixed Ration (TMR). If you feed a TMR, it is likely that you are already mixing minerals directly into your ration. This allows you to more accurately control intake and deliver minerals to the bite. This method does require you to utilize a TMR feeding system. This is less common in small herds and less practical for grazing herds on summer pasture
Source : illinois.edu