Why Do Cattle Need Salt Blocks?

Salt blocks are a common way for cattle ranchers and dairy farmers to supply their herds with salt. Salt is needed as a dietary supplement in many regions where sodium and chloride cannot be obtained in adequate quantities from foraging. It also serves as a production booster -- inadequate salt can lead to decreased milk production in dairy cows -- and a way to control cattle grazing.

  1. Nutrition

    • Cattle need to consume an average of 11 to 15 grams of salt every day to maintain good nutrition. Sodium and chloride, the elements of common salt, are major components of blood and help maintain osmotic pressure in cells, facilitating proper transfer of nutrients and waste across the cell membrane.

    Productivity

    • Adequate intake of salt contributes to better productivity and overall herd health. Salt deprivation can lead to weight loss and decreased milk production in dairy cows. Salt as a supplement can be used to help cattle metabolize certain feeds more quickly as well. Chloride is involved in in hydrochloric acid production in the stomach, which aids in digestion.

    Grazing

    • Cattle are attracted to salt blocks. Placing salt blocks in strategic areas allows you to control which areas are grazed most heavily. The easiest way to keep the herd moving strategically is to only offer as much salt as the cattle will consume in a day or two. When an area has been grazed, move the salt blocks to an area that has had a recovery period, keeping any one area from being overgrazed. Don't place the salt blocks near the water source because the area surrounding water will already be heavily used.

    Risks

    • Salt overdoses rarely occur since excess salt is generally excreted in urine and cattle are considered capable of regulating their own salt intake when a source is consistently available. Overfeeding salt is more likely when it is used to limit the intake of self-fed supplements -- mixing dietary supplements with salt so the cattle won't overeat the supplement. However, supplying plenty of drinking water is crucial to avoid salt toxicity or rumen acidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when the rumen pH falls below 5.5. Less acute forms of acidosis depress milk production and cause suppressed appetite, diarrhea and other symptoms.