I just received my order from Bio-Ag located in Toronto, Canada. I ordered a premix goat mineral from them and it says there is no salt in the mix. Do I need to provide salt for my goats or is this mineral mix okay as is? If I do have to provide salt, should I mix with the premix mineral or provide it free choice in a different bowl? If I need to mix, what ratio do you recommend?
Bio-Ag Goat Premix ingredients provide:
- Probiotic
- Kelp Meal
- water soluble vitamins A, D, and natural source vitamin E (3x more available than synthetic variety)
- B vitamins
- chelated copper, iron, cobalt, zinc, and manganese complexes
http://bio-ag.com/livestock/goats/ Here's the link, just click on the (+) next to Bio-Ag premix to view the full information.
I have had a horrible time finding goat minerals here in Nova Scotia Canada, this company I can get organic minerals but I didn't realize it was salt free.
Replies
Adding salt is the type of thing that is way more complicated than it sounds. Nutritionist usually use salt as a way to control consumption of the minerals. It would be a good idea to have the salt separate from the minerals. Since you don't have a good idea of how much of the minerals should be consumed and how much salt they should consume, adding salt to the minerals could wind up causing over- or under-consumption. Having salt separate is a good thing. I know a holistic vet who says that all minerals should be salt free so that the animals will be driven by their need for the minerals rather than salt.