Salt as a management tool to enhance rotational grazing

Oct 1, 2007 12:00 PM

By Larry Berger, University of Illinois for the Salt Institute

Because grazing animals have a keen appetite for salt, the salt feeder can be used as a management tool to accomplish several objectives besides meeting the animals’ nutritional needs. The Noble Foundation of Ardmore, Okla., has done considerable research in using the salt feeder as a management tool to accomplish more than simply meeting the salt needs of cattle. Overtime, they found that for it to be an effective management tool, it must possess four characteristics:

First, it must be user-friendly in that it can be easily constructed and rarely needs repairs. Commercial units are available today if the rancher does not want to build his own.

Secondly, the unit must be transportable. This is essential if the unit is going to be moved every two to four days during the grazing season. Cattle learn to follow the unit to the new paddock.

Thirdly, the unit must be properly sized and positioned according to the number of animals in the herd. The salt-mineral feeder must be durable and easily maintained. The salt feeder should be positioned such that it baits cattle to use the cattle rub portion of the tool. The cattle rub portion of the tool will be effective at controlling external parasites only if the cattle use it regularly

Controlling fly populations can be a major challenge when there are a large number of grazing animals in a relatively small area. Recent research (Cocke et al, 1989; DeRouen et al, 1995 and Foil et al, 1996) reported that weight gains were increased 27 lb. per head for weaned calves and by an average of 17% in yearling grazing cattle when flies were effectively controlled.

The Noble Foundation has found that by combining the salt feeder and cattle rub in the same tool, the cattle rub becomes a much more effective method of controlling flies. A 1982 study by Roberts and Saluta reported that more than 75% of the time cattle rubs impregnated with the appropriate insecticides were more than 90% effective at controlling the fly population on grazing cattle. The main problem was training the cattle to use the rub often enough to control the flies. This problem appears to be overcome by combining the salt feeder and cattle rub into one tool.

Putting the cattle rub immediately adjacent to the salt feeder seems to be the key that encourages consistent use of the rub. Although hard block, pelleted and small, granulated salt-mineral mixes have been used successfully in the feeding tool, the loose mineral appears most desirable for the following reasons:

First, the cattle consume the loose salt mineral mix, more rapidly giving them time to also use the cattle rub. The large models with a 10-foot (ft.) cattle rub have been used successfully for herds as large as 150 head. If only block salt is provided, the amount of salt feeder space has to be increased to allow adequate consumption.

Animals at the bottom of the pecking order may not get access to the salt or cattle rub when the feeder is constantly occupied.

Secondly, feeding a mineral mix and/or ionophores requires that the loose salt be mixed with the other ingredients to get the desired intake. The ratio of the salt to other ingredients may change with season of the year, pasture composition, and changing cattle requirements.

Finally, most grazing cattle will consume 2-4 ounces (oz.) of salt per day. This gives a starting point to estimate the ionophore concentration needed to get the desired intake. Practical experience has shown that 20%-30% salt is the minimum concentration needed to encourage regular salt consumption and use of the cattle rub.

Feeding a loose salt-mineral mix requires a roof over the salt feeder in most climates. In low rainfall areas, a roof may not be necessary. However, if a mixture of salt and ionophore is fed, a roof is recommended to prevent rain damage and reduce wind losses.

The salt feeder should be located away from the watering source and trees. These normally tend to attract cattle and often result in heavy grazing pressure around them.

Positioning the salt feeder in a low-traffic area will encourage more-uniform grazing and manure and urine distribution.

In summary, grazing cattle have a keen appetite for salt, which makes it an excellent management tool. Salt can be used to regulate the intake of minerals and ionophores without the labor of daily feeding. The salt feeder described above acts as an attractant to help animals learn to use the cattle rub. The salt-feeder cattle rub tool is an effective means of controlling flies and other external parasites.

Moving the salt feeder to low-traffic areas improves grazing distribution. The salt feeder cattle rub tool is a user-friendly, lowcost device that can increase beef production in a rotational grazing system.

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