Salt for Livestock (Winter Edition)

During winter, it’s common and concerning for animals to drink less water, which can lead to serious health issues such as dehydration, impaction colic in horses, and decreased nutrient absorption if not addressed properly. The main culprit is that cold weather diminishes the sensation of thirst, causing animals to feel less inclined to drink compared to warmer months. Most animals prefer their water to be between 40°F and 65°F (approximately 4°C to 18°C). Water that is close to freezing or overly cold becomes unappealing and uncomfortable, further discouraging consumption. Utilizing salt is a practical and effective method to encourage livestock to drink more water during winter, provided it is managed carefully alongside constant access to fresh water. Salt stimulates the natural thirst response in animals, aiding in the prevention of dehydration, which is a significant concern in colder weather.

Why Livestock Need Salt

• Essential Nutrients: Salt supplies sodium and chloride, vital for hydration, muscle contraction, and digestion.
• Increased Water Intake: It promotes thirst, encouraging animals to drink more, which is crucial for maintaining body temperature and digestion.
• Enhanced Feed Efficiency: Adding salt can improve an animal’s ability to maximize the nutritional value of their feed.
• Prevention of Deficiencies: Offering salt helps prevent animals from seeking harmful substances when they are lacking essential minerals.

How to Provide Salt to Livestock

• Free-Choice: The best approach is to provide salt on a free-choice basis, allowing each animal to consume what it needs.
• Avoid Mixed Blocks: Some experts discourage the use of “formed blocks,” as grazing animals may not have enough time to lick them, leading to inconsistent intake.
• Loose vs. Blocks: Loose salt can be blended with other necessary trace minerals, while blocks can be a convenient option depending on the specific animal and environment.

Important Considerations

• Water is Crucial: When supplementing with salt, it’s vital to ensure a plentiful supply of fresh, clean drinking water at all times. Excessive salt intake without adequate water can lead to health complications.
• Avoid Purified White Salt: Many experts suggest using natural, unrefined salts (such as certain sea salts or “real” salts) that contain a broader range of naturally occurring trace minerals, as heavily processed white salt may lack these beneficial elements.
• Monitor Intake: Keep track of consumption levels. If intake is too high, relocate the salt source away from water; if too low, move it closer to high-traffic areas.

Species-Specific Needs: Different animals have varying requirements. For instance, sheep are sensitive to high copper levels, so a mineral mix intended for cattle might not be suitable for them. Always check product labels and consult with an extension educator or veterinarian for tailored guidance based on your region’s soil and forage conditions.

Visit Burns Feed Store, and we’ll assist you in determining which salt options are best suited for your livestock’s needs!

Gate and System Maintenance

These guidelines are meant to be general in nature and specific needs will vary based on your environment.

Getting Started:

• Adjust the gate hinges to make sure the gate swings level, plumb and freely throughout the full opening and closing range of motion. Level is horizontal and plumb vertical. Plumb refers to something being straight up and down. The gate post(s) needs to be plumb and hinges need to be aligned vertically. When a gate/post is not plumb it may surge/hesitate in a particular direction of its travel and possibly not function.
• Clean your gate with a mild cleaner, a rag, a soft brush, and a water hose to remove dirt and dust.
• Do any rust removal and touch up painting, that you might deem necessary.

The Gate:

Keeping your gates swinging easily and freely is very important so that your gate opener system continues to work correctly. If your ball-bearing/bearing type gate hinges are binding, out of grease, or have become difficult to move, your gate opener system may treat this as an obstruction. If it seems to be associated in some way with the temperature the problem can likely be resolved by lubricating your gate hinges. If the hinges are worn or damaged replace them.

We suggest removing the pin from the front of the operator and working the grease into the gate hinges as much as possible. Use a grease suited for the temperature range in your location. Lithium-based grease tends to work well in many applications. Don’t forget to put the front clevis pin back into the front of the operator when you have finished greasing the hinges.

Lubricate The Operator Arm

Using a silicone spray, you can maintain/clean the silver aluminum push-pull tube (with the operator arm extended and the system turned off) , spray a clean cloth with the silicone and wipe the extended push-pull of the operator arm. Cleaning this part of the arm helps remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated over time and can help reduce premature wear and noise on the internal parts of the operator arm.

Check The System Batteries

As a battery ages its ability to work becomes reduced. A good rule of thumb would be to inspect the battery(s) each fall.

• Clean any corrosion from the battery terminals and connectors. A wire brush the size of a toothbrush is a handy tool for this job. Brush it lightly until any corrosion is removed. Most automotive part stores also have some type of anti-corrosion product that can be added to your system for additional protection.
• Check all battery and battery harness connections to ensure none of the connections are loose.
• The batteries can be loaded tested as well
  • Disconnect the charging source. (solar panel or transformer connections)
  • Measure battery voltage.
    • a. If you have two batteries, check them individually.
    • b. If the voltage(s) is above 12 Vdc, proceed with the load test.
    • c. If the voltage(s) is below 12 Vdc, charge the batteries externally before proceeding. At no greater than 2 amps.
  • The load test will only be conducted on one battery at a time. Measure the voltage prior to operation. Activate the unit while continuing to monitor the voltage. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during the cycle.
  • Repeat for 4 more half cycles (open or close) pausing for approximately 10 seconds in between activations. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during these movements.
  • If the voltage drops are greater than .5 a volt the battery/batteries should be replaced.

Solar Installations

• Use glass cleaner: Clean the glass on your solar panel to remove any algae, mold, mildew, or dirt that may have accumulated throughout the year. Keeping your solar panel glass clean helps to maximize the potential charging ability of the panel which is more important during the winter months as the number of hours of unobstructed sunlight hitting the panel decreases. Move/relocate panel if needed.
• Using the screwdriver provided with your kit, tighten any of the wiring terminal connections that are loose.