5 Best Goat Mineral Licks For Small Farms That Support Herd Vitality
Ensure herd vitality on your small farm with the right minerals. We review the 5 best goat mineral licks to provide essential, balanced supplementation.
You notice one of your does has a rough, dull coat, and her kids seem a bit slower to grow than last year’s. It’s a subtle sign, but one that points directly to a common blind spot on small farms: mineral deficiency. Proper mineral supplementation isn’t just an extra; it’s the invisible engine driving your herd’s health, reproduction, and resilience. Getting it right is one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort things you can do for your animals.
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Decoding Goat Mineral Needs on Your Small Farm
Goats can’t get everything they need from pasture and hay alone. Modern forage is often grown on soil that is depleted of essential trace minerals, meaning what your goats eat is likely missing key nutrients. This is why providing a free-choice mineral supplement is non-negotiable for a healthy herd.
The most critical minerals to watch are copper and selenium. A copper deficiency can lead to a rough coat, a "fishtail" look at the end of the tail, and increased parasite loads. Selenium, which is notoriously deficient in the soils of many regions, is vital for muscle development and reproductive health. A proper goat mineral will also have a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, typically around 2:1, to support strong bone development and prevent urinary calculi in bucks and wethers.
Crucially, you must use a mineral formulated specifically for goats. Never use a sheep or "all-stock" mineral. Sheep are highly sensitive to copper and can die from levels that are essential for a goat’s well-being. Using the wrong product isn’t just ineffective; it’s dangerous.
Sweetlix Meat Maker: A Top Loose Mineral Pick
When you need a reliable, high-potency loose mineral, Sweetlix Meat Maker is a go-to for many experienced goat keepers. It’s designed with a high copper content (around 1500-1700 ppm), making it excellent for herds in copper-deficient areas or for owners who notice classic deficiency signs. The formulation is highly palatable, which means your goats are more likely to consume what they need without hesitation.
As a loose mineral, its main advantage is ease of consumption. Goats can easily lick up the precise amount their bodies are telling them they need, which is especially important for pregnant or lactating does with high mineral demands. The tradeoff, of course, is that loose minerals require protection from the elements. You’ll need a covered feeder to keep it from turning into a hard, useless brick after a single rainstorm, which means it’s best suited for a barn or a three-sided shelter.
Redmond Natural Block: A Weather-Resistant Option
Redmond’s mineral products are mined from an ancient seabed in Utah, offering a broad spectrum of trace minerals in a natural state. The Redmond Natural Block is a popular choice for its sheer durability. This isn’t a soft, molasses-based block; it’s a hard rock of salt and minerals that can sit out in the pasture through rain and snow without dissolving into a puddle.
This weather resistance is its biggest selling point for small farms with minimal shelter. You can place it on a stump or in a simple ground feeder and forget about it for weeks. However, this hardness is also its primary drawback. Goats have to work hard to get minerals from it, and some may not consume enough to meet their needs, especially if they are already deficient. It’s an excellent source of salt and trace minerals, but it may not provide enough of the key nutrients like copper and selenium to serve as your herd’s only mineral source.
Manna Pro Goat Mineral for Optimal Herd Health
Manna Pro Goat Mineral is one of the most widely available and dependable loose mineral options on the market. If you can’t find more specialized brands at your local feed store, you can almost always find this one. It provides a solid, balanced profile of essential vitamins and minerals, including selenium and zinc, to support immunity and overall vitality.
This product is a great all-around choice for a mixed herd of meat, dairy, or pet goats. It’s formulated with yeast cultures to support digestive health and is palatable enough that most goats take to it readily. While it may have slightly less copper than a high-performance mineral like Sweetlix, it offers a fantastic baseline of nutrition that will keep most herds in excellent condition. Think of it as the reliable workhorse of goat minerals.
Purina Goat Mineral: For Growth and Production
Purina is a giant in the animal feed world for a reason: they invest heavily in research and formulation. Their goat mineral is designed to support optimal performance, making it a strong choice if you’re focused on milk production, fast-growing meat kids, or show animals. It contains a balanced mix of minerals and vitamins that target growth, lactation, and reproductive efficiency.
The formulation is often pelleted or granulated for easy consumption and to reduce dust and waste. Because it’s geared toward production, it ensures goats have the nutritional foundation to handle the stresses of kidding and milking. For the hobby farmer who wants to get the most out of their small herd, whether for the freezer or the milk pail, Purina offers a consistent and effective product backed by extensive science.
Himalayan Salt Lick: A Natural Sodium Source
You’ve seen them everywhere: the iconic pink salt licks on a rope. Himalayan salt is a great, natural source of sodium chloride and contains dozens of trace minerals in small quantities. Goats often love them, and they can be a good tool for enrichment and encouraging water intake.
However, it is critical to understand what they are not. A Himalayan salt lick is not a complete mineral supplement. It lacks the high, targeted levels of crucial minerals like copper, selenium, and zinc that goats require. Relying on one as your sole mineral source will inevitably lead to serious health deficiencies down the road. Use it as a secondary salt source or a "treat," but always provide a complete, balanced loose goat mineral alongside it.
Choosing the Right Mineral Form for Your Herd
The debate between loose minerals and blocks comes down to a simple tradeoff: effectiveness versus convenience. There is no single right answer, and the best choice depends entirely on your setup and management style.
- Loose Minerals: This is the gold standard for ensuring goats get what they need. They can consume it easily, and it’s the best way to correct an existing deficiency. The major downside is that it requires a weatherproof feeder to prevent waste and spoilage.
- Pressed Blocks: These are incredibly convenient. They are weather-resistant and easy to manage, but goats may not be able to consume enough to meet their daily requirements, especially if the block is too hard.
- Lick Tubs: These offer a middle ground. They are softer than blocks, making consumption easier, and the molasses base is highly attractive to goats. The weather resistance is better than loose minerals, but you must watch for overconsumption, which can get expensive and lead to scours.
For most small farms, the ideal setup involves offering a quality loose mineral in a covered feeder located in or near the barn, where the herd spends a good portion of its time.
Proper Feeder Placement and Mineral Management
Simply buying the right mineral isn’t enough; you have to present it correctly. Minerals should be offered "free choice," meaning the goats have access to them 24/7 and can regulate their own intake. Their bodies are remarkably good at knowing what they need.
For loose minerals, use a feeder that keeps the product clean and dry. A simple covered feeder mounted to a wall or fence post at goat-head height is perfect. This prevents them from soiling it with feces or urine and keeps rain out. Avoid placing minerals directly next to the water source, as splashed water will cause them to clump.
Check your mineral feeder at least a few times a week. If it’s empty, you waited too long to refill it. If you notice consumption suddenly drop to zero, check if the mineral has gotten wet and hardened. A consistent, clean, and accessible supply of minerals is a cornerstone of proactive herd management.
Ultimately, the best mineral lick is the one your goats will actually eat, and the one that addresses the specific needs of your herd and your region. Start with a high-quality, goat-specific loose mineral, protect it from the weather, and pay attention to your animals. A glossy coat, bright eyes, and energetic kids will be all the proof you need that you’ve made the right choice.
