How to Interpret Your Mineral Tag

Purpose of your Free Choice Mineral/Vitamin Supplement Correct deficiencies that may result in: Reduced growth rate Reduced immune response Reduced reproductive rates Disorders (Grass Tetany)

Why did you select the mineral you use today? Convenience Block vs. loose Price Mineral Content Medicated Feed Additive Other

Examine Your Mineral Tag!

Components of a Mineral Tag Name Drug Claim Active Ingredient Guaranteed Analysis Ingredients Feeding Directions Caution Statements Warnings and Withdrawals

Does Your Mineral Contain a Medicated Feed Additive? What is its Purpose? Is this the right time of year to be using the feed additive?

Interpreting the Active Ingredient Most Common Chlortetracycline (CTC) Increased rate of gain and feed efficiency 70 mg/hd/d Shipping fever complex 350 mg/hd/d Anaplasmosis 0.5 mg/lb BW Fescue Toxicosis ?? Foot Rot (not labeled, feedyard observations suggest benefit)

Interpreting the Active Ingredient Most Common - Ionophores Bovatec (lasalocid) Increased rate of gain 200 mg/hd/d Rumensin (monensin) Few formulas designed for free choice feeding Increased rate of gain Up to 200 mg/hd/d Not labeled but helps control bloat

Interpreting the Active Ingredient Most Common – Fly Control Altosid Rabon Bloat Guard (poloxalene) Found in blocks to prevent bloat on dense legume and small grain pasture.

What is the expected intake of this mineral? Is the mineral content sufficient to correct deficiencies when consumed at the labeled intake?

Interpreting the Guaranteed Analysis Level You Need 4 oz intake % Requirement 1100 lb lactating cow Calcium (%)1280 Phosphorus (%)6-845 to 60 Potassium (%)0-- Magnesium (%)10 to 12 (tetany season only) 50% Sulfur (%)0-3--

Interpreting the Guaranteed Analysis Level You Need 4 oz intake % Requirement 1100 lb lactating cow Iron0-- Manganese2000 ppm 0.2 % 50 Iodine50 ppm 0.005% 100 Cobalt15 ppm % 150

Interpreting the Guaranteed Analysis Level You Need 4 oz intake % Requirement 1100 lb lactating cow Copper1250 ppm % 125 Zinc4000 ppm 0.4 % 130 Selenium20 ppm 0.002% 200

Interpreting the Ingredients Just because the mineral isnt listed under guaranteed analysis doesnt mean it isnt added. You may find it listed as a feed ingredient, but you wont be able to tell how much is in there. Ingredients to AVOID Copper Oxide Poorly available source of copper Iron Oxide (should be used for coloring only) Guaranteed Analysis of Iron from Iron Oxide doesnt represent whats available to the animal.

Interpreting the Ingredients What about Chelated (organic) type minerals Cost more More available to the animal May not enhance production despite higher levels of mineral in tissue

Interpreting the Ingredients Non mineral-specific ingredients Fillers (take up the volume not filled by mineral sources) Flavoring agents Mineral or other oils Rumen Modifers Yeasts, seaweed extract Vitamins (fat and water soluble) A,D, and E most common.

Water soluble vitamins

What are the other feeding directions? If it doesnt say provide additional free choice salt. DONT DO IT!