Minerals: How and When to Use Them

Smith Fertilizer & Grain stocks and has access to a wide variety of minerals from the two leading manufacturers, Kent and Hubbard. Today I will discuss what some of these products are, and how and when to use them.

Kent Mineral

Kent 365 Fescue (7798), and Performance Fescue (7894), are products you should use around late April through September. These products will counter fescue toxicity and prevent high body temperatures from fescue. Fescue toxicity will reduce your breed-back rate and milking ability of the cow, so we want to avoid this at all costs.

During breeding time, consider Kent 365 ADE (7701), 365 Performance ADE with Availa (7882), or Performance Breeder Aide (7884). Both of these products contain chelated and trace minerals, necessary for desired growth and development.

When putting in embryos or flushing cows, use 365 Performance Full Flush with Availa (7884).

Hubbard Mineral

We carry two lines of Hubbard Mineral: Blueprint and Stockmaster.

Hubbard’s Blueprint minerals are 100% proteinated trace minerals. This means the trace minerals are in a bio-available form, allowing them to be effectively absorbed and utilized. Two of the most important included trace products are selenium and yeast. These products are utilized by the heifer for immune strength and breed-back.
For fescue pastures, we recommend Hubbard Stockmaster Fescue Max (57597). This product is also 100% proteinated. Hubbard’s fescue minerals all contain FEB200, which binds fescue toxins and removes them from the cow.

If you don’t have fescue pastures, consider Blueprint Cow-Calf 5 (73756) or Stockmaster Cow Power 6 (69525). These products forego the proteinated trace minerals in return for a budget-friendly product.

Fly Control & Value-Added Products

Any of these minerals are available with added fly control or CTC, as needed, in two-ton custom orders. Available value-added products are AFC, IGR, Altoscid, or garlic.

If you don’t need two tons of mineral, we can supply Clarifly for mixing on-farm. Sold in 50-pound bags, simply add one pound of Clarifly to each 50-pound bag of mineral. 
                                    
We also stock a selection ADE and Fescue minerals with added fly control, depending on the season. Give us a call for availability and pricing!