Wind and Rain tubs. Good mineral... Doesn't blow around and doesn't matter if it becomes wet. We use it here in Southwest Missouri on our Purebred Angus Seedstock Operation. Another good mineral is any Vita-Ferm product, If you are on an AI program or on a Natural Service, You'll notice the cattle will concept better and with the Vita-Ferm heat product black cattle will stay cooler and graze more. The vita-ferm tubs come in 225 LB amounts. I believe the Purina Wind & Rain come in 125 or so pound tubs. Both products can be pricy, but are 100% worth it... Our AI specialist suggests Vitaferm Heat during the summer. We had an 85% conception rate with it on our heifers. And in the past have had a great calf crop with very little mortality not only is there good reproductive success, But the cattle tend to keep their conditon better, and even sometimes improve condition which is very very difficult here in SWMO/SEKS due to the extreme weather events we have, one moment can be a blizzard, the next an F-5 Tornado and 115 degrees... We never know. And when a good mineral like so assists with keeping the cattle in good order, then that means something to us. In our Pre-Con pens we tend to stay loyal to the Purina products, simply due to the fact that number one it's cheaper, and number two the cattle will not stay for very long before going to a large scale feedlot in Iowa or to the Stockyards for sale. Salt Blocks are required with certain vitaferm products, and are required with wind & rain I do believe. It's to prevent overconsumption according to our local feedstore and it honestly holds the truth. If you have any questions feel free to message me, it may take me a day or 2 to reply, but I definately will be here to help out a fellow cattlemen. Or if needed feel free to PM me for my social media or contact information, I'd be more than happy to give it to you if it meant assisting in getting the correct minerals or whatever on your operation until you can do a custom mix!
Afternoon Tyler, I viewed your post early this morning before the sun came up but didn't have time to comment. It is always great to see how the FTR handles its problems. What I did that was different today was to take the time to read the 20 or so posts from your viewers at that time. What became crystal clear to me is that I must do that regularly. The people that follow you are a wealth of knowledge and experience coming from throughout the world not just our little corner of Northern California. You've started a unique forum here at the FTR and one I look forward to seeing, and now reading twice a week. Keep up the good work.
Oh yes definitely there are a lot of smart folks here! Especially since I delete the people with less than constructive things to say haha! It’s very cool to be able to pull all that experience from all over the world.
A happy cow is a happy producer. Those cows look mighty happy. When we first started 8 years ago a wise old timer told me to make sure they always had a white salt block, tm block, selenium block, and a molasses block accessible to the cows at all times, so we do and I'd say its been pretty beneficial to our hobby farm.
So true Ted. Growing up all my grandpa ever gave them was iodized blocks and that seemed to be sufficient. I like your way, offer them everything and let them decide what they need!
Great video tyler. Looks like your on the right track. I swear they put something in those bags of mineral, they go after the loose stuff like candy. That used to be my monday job go around to all the pastures checking water and mineral. My old boss used to go through about 2 tons of that a year for 300 cow calf pairs. Thanks again for sharing
I use the wind and rain with the fly inhibitor from April to September here in central Wisconsin, and the same stuff you had there the rest of the year. A good mineral program is so important to herd health!
Yes I really wanted to try the fly control one this past year but wouldn’t you know it, it’s illegal in the state of CA! Might have to make a drive to Nevada next year!
Have you thought about mixing or grinding your own feed to supplement their food intake. We ground feed and added mineral to the mix. About a half bag per full feed mill.
Marcus Gilbert YOU ARE SO CORRECT MARCUS!!! The problem with beef cattle on pasture you can never know if the dominate animals in the herds will keep smaller/weaker animals from eating sufficient grain when they are feed.
Don’t get frustrated when they go through that $30+ per bag mineral fast. They obviously need it or wouldn’t be eating it that fast. Just keep it in front of them and they’ll eventually taper off. I use Cargill “Right Now”. It changes mixture every season based on forage type/condition. You’ll see results soon in the way they act when you show up with a bag. They won’t be near as excited to get it. Good luck.
Yes I’m sure they’ll go through a lot right now. The feed store was supposed to have some Nutrina as well for $20/bag but of course that was sold out. Would have been nice to compare labels!
Hello Tyler What make 🐄 have mineral & deficiency. Whatever they eating look like they are really enjoy themselves. I hear a lot of that cow sounds. Which get me know that are happy. Am so happy for you things looking up for. Look like you being get some rest 😴💤 Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your weekend. You always in my prayers and thoughts. Praying 🙏😇 ❣️ Be Blessed
I always learn something from your videos and from the comments of others. Great information! Love the addition of the drone footage, and perspective from the bottom of the bin!
Do you keep a medical records of each cow you probably do like my sister that keeps her horses or like my brothers truck lol. Love your videos ! Learning how we get our food and the cows are being treated ! Hope all farmers care like you !
Alright good! I searched high and low never could find a good pic of that tag, even Purinas website doesn’t really say what’s in it! I’d be kind of interested to know what’s in your blend and what the price difference is
I am glad they moved right in on the minerals. I only put a little bit of minerals out for my goats every couple of days because it absorbs the moisture in the air and becomes wet.
When I was a child, I was found in the meadow licking the salt lick, following along the intricate curves the tongues of the cattle has already made. Yum! I think the salt is going to cause corrosion to the tub in which it is contained.
Haha I think I have a similar story! This trough is a temporary solution until I get a proper mineral feeder because you’re right the salt will destroy it over time.
Thanks for the video, love you using that countryline galvanized tank ,I have one similar to that one, again from the tractor store. The cows are loving the mineral feed!
The way they were going after it, they must know it's something they need! Will the little calves be able to reach it? So glad they're all well and doing good! See ya next time👍
I thought would they be able to reach as its depth maybe smaller feeders like you have for your pigs but longer might be ideal that way even the little ones can reach . It's good you have other farmers that can share there knowledge with you and visa versa Everything you do ants show and tell us is brilliant although I'm not a farmer I find it very interesting so thank you for that and thank the other farmers too that suggest things
I've been using a cheap 4% trace loose mineral by Stockade but after comparing its analysis to what you bought -- I need to step up my mineral game. I also like that Wind and Rain feature as the mineral that I've been feeding clumps up really bad if it gets wet. I have a feeder with a swivel cover that rotates with the wind but moisture still gets in and causes issues with the cheap stuff I've been using. If you make your own mineral feeder you should have some kind of cover over it and it looks like a couple of wheels would be a good option for you also. Wherever you locate it, make sure they have adequate water but don't put it right next to the water source. The salt in the mineral helps discourage them from gorging themselves on it, but if it's too close to their water they'll just go back and forth, back and forth until the feeder is empty.
The Wind and Rain is definitely pricey but everything I read about it was good. I’m thinking about trying to strike a deal with the feed store to get a discount if I buy a pallet or something. A feeder on wheels or maybe just multiple feeders is a must for the future! Thanks Tex Farmer!
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. I compared the tag of you had for the Purina vs. what I have, Kent Framework 365 Mineral and I'm happy to see the numbers are similar. There are many opinions on what cattle need to be fed to stay healthy. I'm glad I had a friend to help me with getting started. Otherwise I would not have known they needed extra vitamins and minerals. I'm happy for you and your wife that things are going well. Keep up the good work!
I use that same mineral your cattle will do well on it. There will be times of the year they will consume a lot of it and times not much at all .depends on what they are getting out of their forage
I really liked that part of the video where you had a camera mounted in the container and we could see the cows reaching down for the minerals. Tyler that brand was a good choice because they really liked it.
Great job meeting your cow's needs! They do take in more loose mineral at first, but you will see them slow down. We do blood test for minerals every 3-4 months. May take some time to totally come up to maintenance levels. Great thought to put near water. Also, cow's can take in loose mineral faster than salt block. Funny how people will say you need a bigger loose mineral feeder, but one tiny block or tub they have to lick to death is "ok." Time they aren't spending licking is time they can graze! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I use Pride Farm mineral feeder (plastic three chamber feeder sits on ground with soft rubber top. Good thing about those types of feeders is they do a good job of keeping the mineral dry for the most part, and calves learn to use them quick. You will notice the cows will go through the mineral fast for the first couple weeks, and then taper off. Seems as though there are certain times of the year they flat eat the mineral. But by in larger, mineral is cheaper than any problem associated with a deficiency.
Around me we use a tub of molasses mixture, can't remember the name of it but its solid, they lick it and molasses is naturally high in selenium. The cows love molasses.. I remember my gramps pouring it on his cows( came in 55 gallon drums) hay in the winter and gram used the blackstrap ( from the same drum)for molasses cookies...
I still haven’t seen his results so I can’t say. I think he had them on a mineral program already, which would explain why his losses were significantly less than mine.
Tyler, you were correct when you were considering the injectables. When you do the injectables you KNOW for a fact that each individual head gets the proper dose! With the oral consumption route you do not know how much of a dose EACH animal gets. They may get too much or too little. To be sure that all cows required some you could learn to do a blood draw from the veins in the tail and have it analyzed at a lab... maybe that can be done when you are doctoring the girls at your reg interval.
When i first started this wind and rain my cows would go through it pretty quick. After a couple weeks they slowed down some. You can add loose salt with trace minerals to slow them down once they get their levels up. How many acres per cow is needed in your area? I'm in east Texas
Thank you Ginger! I’m not really sure about the horses. I’ve never read anything that indicates this stuff would hurt them. I know this would be bad for sheep as they cannot handle copper.
Cows should consume about 4 ounces a day on average. More for a while until they level off. I'd encourage you to shop around and find some that costs less. Keep it out all day everyday. The money spent on mineral for cattle is far and away the best money you will invest in them. Conception rates and overall health will make it back. I promise. Spot checking labwork is a great idea. You can't manage what you don't measure. Here where I live I can get mineral the exact equivalent to Purina and Vitaferm for half the price. Unfortunately you pay for branding but do your homework with a supplier you can trust. You're doing a great job Tyler. Keep it up.
what happens if it gets rained on? does it need a cover build over it on skids that the water trough fits into and you can pull it with the side by side as you are now - just asking before it rains if it is going to get ruined its a lot of money to loose - I am from a farming family so the bottom line is important
Christa Inglis It’s called Wind & Rain because it doesn’t blow around in wind & isn’t destroyed by rain. Others in the comment section say they use it & it’s worth it. No need to cover.
Well supposedly the rain won’t hurt it, but like you I’m a little skeptical. I’ll have to see it to believe it! A lot of people are saying it’s true though so I’ve got hope. Definitely plan to make a better sled/feeder (or two) so it can be easily moved. Thanks Christa you’re right the bottom line is very important!
I use the same mineral uncovered also.Its somewhat rain resistant.Only thing you have to watch is when it rains and minerals have standing water in it for 4 or 5 days it starts to grow mold in it.What I do is just give them enough minerals for 4 or 5 days at a time
I've seen a lot of guys make up their own mineral feeder using a 30 gallon plastic barrel. They'd stand the barrel vertically, make a stand for it to keep it from tipping over, & cut a hole in the side large enough to allow the cow to stick their head in. Good luck. Stay safe.
You are the kind of farmers we need. So caring of your animals. Yea I was wondering about all of them getting some. I love that your grass feed cows. Just a question about pigs. I see some raising them in just mud pins. I would rather eat a pig that was able to grase rather than just eating durt. Your opinion please.
Thank you Tammy! Yes I’m sure now they’ve all gotten access to the mineral. As for the pigs, I will say this- more room is generally better from an animal welfare standpoint and that is why I will eventually graze my pigs. From a dietary standpoint, I don’t think grazing does a whole lot for them. They are monogastrics, just like us. The only difference is they are able to digest cellulose which humans can’t do. This allows them to be able to digest forage BUT I would say also points to the fact that they need more than just grass to be healthy and thrive. So when my pigs go out on grass they will still get the same feed I’m giving them now.
Will this help your horse too? Just wondering if it helps both cows and other farm animals? I like watching your videos, you do a great job with all the information! Thank you and have a Blessed day!
I think I would still have injected them. Yes they have eaten some of the mineral feed but you cant be sure they are all eating it and how much. If you inject you know for sure that they are all getting enough.
We use the red trace mineral blocks. How ever if they don't het the opportunity to have the red trace mineral blocks through out the year the granule loose mineral supplement works great in short form. We use a lot of all different kinds through out the year the as well. Keep working them cows my friend.
I’m using the Purina Wind and Rain. Found out certain forage/hay will deplete minerals. Excellent results using this mineral! Now it’s becoming impossible to locate! Tractor Supply carries this mineral. It’s always “in stock”! Until you walk into the store. Then the employees will point you to everything except the Purina Wind and Rain. “It says right here we have ten bags on hand. Is that what you’re looking for?” Nope! Good luck! It works if you can find it!
Hopefully any of the cows that are deficient in the minerals will be enticed to eat some of the mineral mix. Like you said it's hard to make sure that every cow gets some of the minerals. Having the minerals is a water trough there is no way for rain water to drain so hope that you don't get a heavy rain.
Purina's lab is quite impressive. They know their stuff when it comes to animal nutrition. The problem I have is when the cows aren't around the deer eat everything they don't.
Would be good to add your normal salt with the mineral if they are salt starved to make the cost work better. After a month or so you could go just with the minerals.
Tyler, probably only need 2 do a cross section of the herd in the fall 2 check mineral deficiency. Maybe 10% of the herd, cows only not calves 2 check, if results are OK, do same random sampling of cows & bred heifers in the spring, Should save a few $ which is important!!! 👍
Tyler will take a lot less time than you think to get them back up to correct levels for they will eat it until levels out they know when they need something.
Still figuring that out actually. As their mineral levels balance out they should slow down on it a little bit. Those three bags lasted about a week with 37 pairs
Would it be beneficial to get that mineral into the grazing fields and hay fields so the plants could absorb it ? And when the cows graze or eat the hay they receive the mineral through the grasses
Would it be beneficial? Probably yes. Would it be cost effective to do that as opposed to this? I’m not really sure but I suspect not. The hay should be good as it’s grown in alluvial soil near the river. I’ve never had it tested but it would be interesting to see. Thank you Christina!
Howdy from north Texas! I free choice W&R too. Excellent product! I noticed improved body condition and shorter breed back times. I made several loose mineral feeders from plastic 50 gallon barrels and used semi truck tires. Here's the link to a YT video on how to make them. youtube/ZlnDfWWeJd8. I added an eye hook to the opposite side of the tire. This allows me to chain several together in order to drag them together with my wheeler. Works great!
Could farm business network help u?? I am saying this because in the past with our family farm we never had anyone to help us to make an evaluation of what to do
@@farmertylerranch4399 Hey, thanks for replying. Yes, no copper for sheep. Goats do need some copper. So my buddy explained that people think goats eat anything and have strong stomachs, but it's actually that they have very needy & specific diets so they try to get their needed nutrition by eating all kinds of things. Thanks!
Awesome! So glad things are looking up for ya. Ladies looking better. Maybe try a couple less deep tubs so they can lick em down for less moisture loss.
You know honestly I haven’t checked with him. He has all of my results so I’m guessing if there was something different that came up on his he would tell me
