How to Interpret YourMineral Tag

Purpose of your Free Choice Mineral/Vitamin SupplementCorrect deficiencies that may result in:

Reduced growth rateReduced immune responseReduced reproductive ratesDisorders (Grass Tetany)

Why did you selectthe mineral you use today? Convenience

Block vs. loosePriceMineral ContentMedicated Feed AdditiveOther

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 IngredientMost Common

Chlortetracycline (CTC)Increased rate of gain and feed efficiency

70 mg/hd/dShipping fever complex

350 mg/hd/dAnaplasmosis

0.5 mg/lb BWFescue Toxicosis ??Foot Rot (not labeled, feedyard observations

suggest benefit)

Interpreting the Active IngredientMost Common - Ionophores

Bovatec (lasalocid)Increased rate of gain

200 mg/hd/dRumensin (monensin)

Few formulas designed for free choice feedingIncreased rate of gain

Up to 200 mg/hd/dNot labeled but helps control bloat

Interpreting the Active IngredientMost Common – Fly Control

AltosidRabon

Bloat Guard (poloxalene)Found in blocks to prevent bloat on dense legume

and small grain pasture.

What is the expected intakeof 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 (%) 12 80

Phosphorus (%) 6-8 45 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

Iron 0 --

Manganese 2000 ppm

0.2 %

50

Iodine 50 ppm

0.005%

100

Cobalt 15 ppm

0.0015%

150

Interpreting the Guaranteed Analysis

Level You Need

4 oz intake

% Requirement

1100 lb lactating cow

Copper 1250 ppm

0.125 %

125

Zinc 4000 ppm

0.4 %

130

Selenium 20 ppm

0.002%

200

Interpreting the IngredientsJust because the mineral isn’t listed under

guaranteed analysis doesn’t mean it isn’t added. You may find it listed as a feed ingredient, but

you won’t be able to tell how much is in there.Ingredients to AVOID

Copper OxidePoorly available source of copper

Iron Oxide (should be used for coloring only)Guaranteed Analysis of Iron from Iron Oxide doesn’t

represent what’s available to the animal.

Interpreting the IngredientsWhat about Chelated (organic) type

mineralsCost moreMore available to the animalMay not enhance production despite higher

levels of mineral in tissue

Interpreting the IngredientsNon mineral-specific ingredients

Fillers (take up the volume not filled by mineral sources)

Flavoring agentsMineral or other oils‘Rumen Modifers’

Yeasts, seaweed extractVitamins (fat and water soluble)

A,D, and E most common.

Water solublevitamins

What are the other feeding directions?

If it doesn’t say provide additional free choice salt. DON’T DO IT!