An on-farm mineral study was conducted in collaboration with the Beef IRM team and eight county extension agents and producers across the state.  This mineral study was to look at how cattle behaved at a mineral feeder with both the lid on the feeder as well as with the lid removed.  Trail cameras as well as site visits were utilized to determine how often the cattle visited the feeders as well as how they behaved while at the feeders. The portion of the study completed in Harrison County is with a Beef IRM participant who is working to improve his herd through better breeding practices, minerals, and record-keeping.  We chose to do the study here to allow the producer to see how cattle responded to mineral and so the producer could get a firsthand experience with feeding mineral, utilizing mineral feeders, as well as improving record keeping practices. 

The project lasted for 14 days and the producers were responsible for checking on the cattle daily and filling up the mineral feeders if needed.  Agents were responsible for helping along the way and visually observing the cattle feed at the feeders during that time span.  The producer enjoyed the project and learned quite a bit about feeding mineral, more so than he would have on his own he said.  He enjoyed seeing differences in how the cattle ate the mineral between the lid being on or off.  This project will be repeated this fall and he is planning to be involved again to hopefully learn even more about where the mineral should be placed for best consumption, etc.

This study has been peer-reviewed and submitted to the National American Society of Animal Sciences meeting.