Why do cows need salt?

Salt, along with other minerals, are necessary to sustain life in cows. Much like humans they are the essential building blocks for a living being to perform at best.

The interesting thing about salt is that cattle have a natural “urge” for it. This means that unlike the other minerals they will actually seek it out. If they can not find it then they will try to ingest it from other sources, such as tree bark, dirt, and even urine.

As I mentioned earlier salt is very important for the overall function of a cow. Along with aiding with milk production it will assist with other functions. These functions are things like reproduction, blood flow and even sweating, which I think that one should be obvious.

Is salt necessary for cows?

With the few lines that I have mentioned above the answer to that question is yes. Salt is a very important nutrient needed for the general functioning for cows.

Salt is a necessary mineral for cows and is one that they need to consume daily. Now this does not mean that you will have to force feed this to your cows. They are able to derive salt naturally from things like the forages that they consume in the pasture. in fact depending on where your ranch is located they can even get sodium from the water they drink.

Since they will need to consume it on a daily basis it is a good idea for you to monitor the amount they are taking in to ensure they are getting enough. A deficiency in this can lead to things like a loss of appetite which in turn will lead to things like weight loss and decreased production.

And salt does not just help out the cow in particular, as I mentioned earlier it helps with milk production. The sodium found in salt helps with the absorption of calcium.

The fact that they will seek it out can be very helpful to you as well. You can use it as a topdressing or in a mixture to get them to consume other minerals that they need.

What are their requirements?

The amount of salt that your cows will need to consume will depend on their age and their stage of production. For example, a dry mature cow will not need as much as one that is in the early lactating stage.

But how much exactly do they need? Well research done by the University of Missouri says that the maximum level advisable is 0.08% of the dry matter intake for dry cows and 0.1% for lactating cows.

A general rule of thumb is that cattle will need to consume 0.005% to 0.010% of their body weight as salt daily. For a 1,200lbs cow that would mean she needs to consume between 0.06 to 0.12 pounds of salt daily,

The type of feed that cows are consuming can also affect the amount of salt they will eat. Cows tend to eat more salt with a high-forage diet vs a high-concentrate one.

It is also worth noting that they will also consume more when the grass is “green and succulent” vs ones in the mature stage of growth. This is due to there being less available in the younger forages.

Why do I need to supplement salt?

The short answer to this question is that forages will not generally provide all of the salt that your cows will need. The amount they can get from forages will depend on the part of the country you are in, what the topography is and even what kind of fertilizer that you use.

Many grass species that can be found out in the pasture will only provide 1/2 to 1/6 of the required amount. This is another example of why it is a good idea for you to have your forages tested so you can know what nutrients they will provide and which you will need to supplement.

Another factor that you will need to consider is what other minerals are present in your grasses. Minerals like potassium can inhibit the absorption of salt. It is important for you to find the right balance between minerals for your cows to reach optimal performance.

Speaking of mineral balance, the salt-potassium balance in your cows is related to their absorption of Magnesium. This is why in the early spring it is possible for your cows to get grass tetany. It is during this time that potassium is high in forages while at the same time salt is low.

Yet another reason that you will need to supplement salt is that mixing salt with other mineral supplements can make them more palatable for your cows.

A word of caution with supplementing salt for your cows is that you will need to somewhat keep an eye on their consumption. While it is rare for salt toxicity to occur it is possible.

Types of salt supplements for cows

When it comes to providing salt supplements for your cows they typically come in 2 forms: loose and block. While one may not be superior to the other it depends entirely on your particular situation and needs.

One drawback to using the loose mineral is that cows tend to consume more when it is in this form. This is because they don’t have to work as hard to get it versus with a block.

If you do go with the loose salt supplement one option that you can go with is to pour it over the ration. This can help with the consumption of the ration and control the amount of salt that they are eating.

With blocks there are a few options that you can choose from:

White

Sulfur

Trace…. etc.

If you are looking to learn more about the pros and cons of the different types of salt blocks out there I discussed that in a previous article “Which color salt block is best?”.

If you are going to be feeding salt in either loose or block form it is best to place them near a water source. With the increase in salt taken it they will need to drink more water which will help prevent salt toxicity.

If you are looking to improve the overall production and profitability of your ranch then check out my e-book “Nuts and Bolts of Successful Ranching”