6 Best Sheep Licks For Mineral Deficiencies Old Shepherds Swear By
Learn which 6 mineral licks seasoned shepherds trust to prevent deficiencies. Our guide covers the essential blocks for maintaining optimal flock health.
You ever look out at your flock and notice a ewe that just seems… off? Her fleece is a bit ragged, she’s lagging behind the others, and she just doesn’t have that spark. More often than not, what you’re seeing isn’t a complex disease but a simple, nagging mineral deficiency. Getting your flock’s mineral program right is one of the cheapest and most effective forms of health insurance you can buy.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Decoding Sheep Mineral Needs and Deficiencies
Pasture and hay alone are rarely enough to meet a sheep’s complete nutritional needs. Think of a mineral lick as the multivitamin that fills in the gaps left by their primary forage. The specific gaps depend entirely on your soil, your hay source, and even the time of year.
The big players you need to watch are selenium, copper, cobalt, and iodine. A selenium deficiency can lead to weak lambs and "white muscle disease," while a lack of cobalt (which they use to synthesize Vitamin B12) results in poor growth and a general failure to thrive. These aren’t just minor issues; they directly impact the productivity and resilience of your entire flock.
However, more is not always better, especially with copper. While essential, many sheep breeds—especially Texels, Suffolks, and other terminal sires—are highly susceptible to copper toxicity. A mineral mix designed for cattle can be lethal to sheep. Always use a sheep-specific mineral formulation unless you know for certain your breed requires higher copper levels.
Crystalyx High-Energy: All-Round Flock Support
When you need more than just minerals, Crystalyx is a top-tier choice. This isn’t a simple salt block; it’s a dehydrated molasses and vitamin mixture in a tub that provides a significant energy boost alongside a full spectrum of minerals and vitamins. Its hardened consistency means sheep can’t gorge on it, ensuring a controlled, consistent intake.
This lick shines brightest during periods of high nutritional demand. Put it out a few weeks before tupping to improve conception rates, or offer it to ewes in late gestation to help them meet the energy demands of growing lambs. It’s also fantastic for helping weaned lambs transition or for giving the whole flock a boost when pasture quality dips in late summer or winter.
The main tradeoff is cost. Crystalyx is more expensive than a standard mineral block, but you’re paying for energy and a highly palatable, weatherproof supplement. For many small-flock owners, the improved flock condition and reduced risk of "twin lamb disease" (pregnancy toxemia) make it a worthwhile investment during critical times of the year.
Rumenco Rumevite: Copper-Free for Sensitive Breeds
If you raise a breed known for copper sensitivity, this is your go-to block. The single biggest mistake a new shepherd can make is offering a generic "livestock" block that contains levels of copper safe for cattle but toxic for sheep. Rumenco specifically formulates its sheep blocks to be low or entirely free of added copper, removing that risk entirely.
These blocks are designed to provide all the other essential trace elements your flock needs, like cobalt, selenium, and zinc, without the copper liability. They are a targeted solution for a very common and dangerous problem. Using a copper-free block for sensitive breeds isn’t just a good idea; it’s a fundamental part of responsible husbandry.
Don’t mistake "copper-free" for "less effective." These are high-quality feed blocks that support everything from fleece quality to immune function. They simply eliminate one major variable, giving you peace of mind. If you’re not sure about your breed’s sensitivity, erring on the side of a copper-free formula is always the safest bet.
Purina Wind and Rain Sheep Mineral: Loose Mix
Blocks are convenient, but a loose mineral mix offers its own set of advantages. A loose mix allows sheep to get what they need more easily, which can be especially helpful for older ewes or lambs. You can also monitor consumption more accurately by seeing how quickly the level in the feeder goes down.
The classic problem with loose minerals is weather. A single downpour can turn an expensive bag of minerals into a solid, useless brick. Purina’s "Wind and Rain" formulation directly addresses this with a weather-resistant product that helps prevent clumping and waste. It’s a practical solution to a frustratingly common problem.
Of course, you still need a proper mineral feeder—a covered, three-sided trough works well—to offer a loose mix. This requires a bit more setup than just tossing a block in the field. The tradeoff is greater control and potentially better consumption for a flock that might not be hitting a hard block consistently enough.
Redmond Natural Block for Ewes and Lambs
For those who prefer a more natural approach, Redmond blocks are hard to beat. Mined from an ancient seabed in Utah, this is essentially unrefined sea salt with a broad spectrum of naturally occurring trace minerals. It’s not a formulated supplement in the same way as others; it’s a whole-earth product.
The key benefit here is the complexity. Instead of just a handful of key minerals, Redmond contains over 60 trace minerals. The philosophy is that sheep know what they need and will lick the block to balance their own systems with this wide array of elements. Its natural hardness also helps prevent overconsumption.
This is an excellent foundational block for general, year-round maintenance. It ensures your flock always has access to salt and a baseline of trace minerals. However, if you have a known, severe deficiency in your area (like selenium), you may need to supplement with a more targeted product in addition to the Redmond block.
Sweetlix Magnum Milk with Selenium and Vitamin E
Timing is everything in a shepherd’s calendar, and your mineral program should reflect that. The Sweetlix Magnum Milk lick is a perfect example of a targeted supplement designed for the most critical phase: late gestation and early lactation. This is when a ewe’s nutritional demands skyrocket.
This lick is specifically fortified with high levels of Selenium and Vitamin E. These two work together and are absolutely crucial for preventing white muscle disease in newborn lambs, a condition that causes muscle degeneration and weakness. Providing it to the ewe ensures these vital nutrients are passed through her milk to the lambs when they need it most.
You wouldn’t necessarily use this block year-round. It’s a strategic tool. By putting it out about a month before lambing and keeping it available through the first month of lactation, you are directly supporting lamb vigor, milk production, and the ewe’s ability to recover and rebreed successfully.
American Stockman Se-90 Trace Mineral Salt Block
Sometimes, you just need a reliable, cost-effective workhorse. The American Stockman Se-90 block is exactly that. This is a classic, red trace mineral salt block that has been a staple in barns for decades for one simple reason: it works.
Its primary feature is its fortification with Selenium, indicated by the "Se" in its name. Selenium deficiency is one of the most common mineral issues across North America, making this block a straightforward solution for many flocks. It provides the salt sheep crave while delivering a targeted dose of this essential nutrient, along with others like iodine and cobalt.
This isn’t the most complex or energy-dense supplement on the list. It’s a simple, affordable, and effective way to cover your basic trace mineral needs, especially if you know selenium is a concern in your region. It’s a perfect starting point for a new flock or for maintenance outside of critical breeding and lambing periods.
Choosing the Right Mineral Lick for Your Flock
There is no single "best" mineral lick for all sheep. The right choice depends entirely on your specific situation. To make a good decision, you need to answer a few key questions about your operation.
First, what is your forage base? If you’re on lush, high-quality pasture, a basic trace mineral salt block might be enough. If your flock is on dry, winter pasture or lower-quality hay, an energy-dense lick like Crystalyx becomes much more valuable. Second, what breeds are you raising? If you have any copper-sensitive breeds, a copper-free formula like Rumevite is non-negotiable.
Finally, what is your flock’s production stage? A maintenance flock has different needs than ewes heading into lambing. Consider using a targeted supplement like Sweetlix Magnum Milk during high-demand periods. The best approach is often to use a combination: a foundational block like Redmond or American Stockman for year-round access, supplemented with a high-spec lick during critical windows. The ultimate guide is your flock’s condition—watch them closely, and they will tell you what they need.
Ultimately, mineral supplementation is about proactive management. It’s far easier and cheaper to prevent a deficiency than to treat the resulting health problems. Start with a solid, sheep-safe product, observe your animals, and don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy as the seasons and your flock’s needs change.
