6 Best Cattle Mineral Feeders For Improved Health Old Farmers Swear By
Proper mineral intake is key to herd health. We review 6 durable, waste-reducing feeders that seasoned farmers trust for optimal cattle nutrition.
You’ve seen it before: a cow licking a patch of dirt, chewing on an old fence post, or even eating gravel. These aren’t just weird habits; they’re clear signs your herd is desperately seeking minerals their forage is missing. Providing a high-quality, free-choice mineral supplement is one of the single most effective things you can do for your cattle’s health, but just dumping it in an old tire isn’t enough. The right feeder protects your investment, reduces waste, and ensures every animal gets what it needs, when it needs it.
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Why Free-Choice Minerals Matter for Herd Health
Free-choice feeding means putting the mineral out and letting the cattle decide how much to eat. They have an innate nutritional wisdom and will consume more or less depending on the quality of the pasture, their stage of production, and individual health needs. A pregnant cow in her third trimester has vastly different requirements than a dry cow in peak summer.
This approach is far superior to mixing mineral into a grain ration. Forced feeding assumes every animal needs the same amount, which is never true. It can lead to over-consumption in some and under-consumption in others, especially with timid heifers or older cows getting pushed away from the bunk.
The results of proper mineral supplementation are impossible to ignore. You’ll see higher conception rates, healthier and heavier calves at weaning, and a stronger herd immunity that reduces vet bills. It’s not an expense; it’s a foundational investment in the productivity and well-being of your animals.
Behlen Country Bull Feeder: Unmatched Durability
When you want a feeder that you can buy once and likely never replace, the Behlen Bull Feeder is the standard. These are typically made from thick, heavy-duty polyethylene that won’t rust, rot, or crack under the sun. They’re built to withstand the abuse of a curious herd and an ornery bull.
Its most important feature is the heavy rubber flap that covers the mineral pan. This flap is key to preventing waste. It keeps driving rain and snow out, which stops the mineral from turning into a hard, useless brick. It also deters birds, rodents, and other pests from contaminating the supply.
The main tradeoff here is portability. This is a heavy, substantial piece of equipment that you set in place and leave. It’s not ideal for intensive rotational grazing systems where you’re moving cattle every day. But for a set-and-forget solution in a home pasture, its durability and weather resistance are second to none.
Tarter 3-Compartment Feeder for Custom Blends
Sometimes, a single mineral mix doesn’t cover all your bases. You might want to offer loose salt, a complete mineral mix, and a specialty product like a high-magnesium supplement during the spring to prevent grass tetany. A multi-compartment feeder is the perfect tool for this job.
The Tarter 3-Compartment model is a popular choice because it allows you to offer these different supplements side-by-side. The dividers keep everything separate, so you can clearly see what your cattle are craving. If they’re hammering the high-mag but ignoring the complete mix, that gives you valuable information about your forage quality.
This design is incredibly practical for the savvy manager. It gives you the flexibility to respond to changing seasonal needs or the specific results of a soil or forage test. Offering choices empowers the animal to balance its own ration, which is a cornerstone of low-input, successful animal husbandry.
Sioux Steel Ground Feeder: Wind-Resistant Design
In an open pasture with little tree cover, wind is your enemy. A lightweight feeder can easily be tipped or blown across a field, spilling hundreds of dollars of mineral on the ground. The Sioux Steel Ground Feeder is built specifically to solve this problem.
Its design is low-profile, wide, and heavy. Made from galvanized steel, it has a low center of gravity that makes it exceptionally stable, even in serious storms. Cattle can’t easily push it around or flip it over when they’re jostling for position or using it as a scratching post.
The all-steel construction means it can take a beating. While any steel product can eventually rust, a good galvanized coating provides years of reliable service. This is the feeder you choose when your primary concern is keeping the mineral station put, no matter what the weather or the herd throws at it.
High Country Wind Vane Feeder: Weather Protection
Moisture is the number one destroyer of mineral. Once it gets wet, it clumps, spoils, and becomes unpalatable. The High Country Wind Vane Feeder offers arguably the most ingenious solution to keeping mineral dry.
This feeder features a hooded opening that sits on a swivel base. The "vane" on the back catches the wind, causing the entire hood to rotate so the opening always faces downwind. This simple but brilliant design protects the mineral from rain and snow being driven by the wind, keeping the contents perfectly dry and loose.
This level of protection dramatically reduces waste and ensures the mineral stays appealing to the cattle. The only potential downside is that the moving parts could eventually wear, and some skittish animals might take a day or two to get used to sticking their heads inside. However, for maximum protection from the elements, especially in wet climates, the wind vane design is hard to beat.
Brower Trough Feeder for Serving Larger Herds
If you’re running more than a handful of cows, you’ve probably noticed "boss cow" behavior at the feeder. Dominant animals can hog a small feeder, preventing more timid or younger cattle from getting their share. A long trough-style feeder is the solution.
The Brower Trough Feeder provides enough linear space for multiple animals to eat at once, shoulder-to-shoulder. This reduces competition and ensures the entire herd has access. These are often designed with a flip-top lid or a protective flap to offer some weather resistance.
Because of their open design, these feeders are best suited for use in a covered area, like a lean-to or a three-sided shed. While they offer some protection, they aren’t as weatherproof as a fully hooded model. Their strength lies in providing maximum access for larger groups in a semi-protected environment.
Little Giant Fence Feeder: A Space-Saving Option
Not every situation calls for a 200-pound ground feeder. For small, confined spaces like a bull pen, a calving pen, or a quarantine lot, a fence-mounted feeder is the perfect tool. You need to provide mineral, but you don’t have the space for a large, permanent fixture.
The Little Giant Fence Feeder is a compact, durable plastic unit with built-in brackets that hang securely over a standard fence rail or gate. It’s lightweight, easy to move, and simple to clean. It holds enough mineral for one or two animals for several days.
This is a specialty tool, not a solution for your main herd in a 40-acre pasture. Its capacity is limited, and it’s not designed to withstand the pressure of a dozen cows fighting over it. But for those specific situations where you need a temporary, space-saving mineral solution, it’s an indispensable piece of equipment.
Choosing the Right Feeder for Your Pasture Setup
There is no single "best" mineral feeder. The right choice depends entirely on your specific operation, environment, and management style. Don’t just buy the cheapest option or the one your neighbor has; think through your needs first.
Before you buy, ask yourself a few key questions:
- Herd Size: How many animals need access at once? A large herd needs a trough or multiple feeders to reduce competition.
- Environment: Is your pasture wide open and windy, or is it a sheltered woodlot? This dictates your need for wind and weather resistance.
- Portability: Do you practice rotational grazing and need to move the feeder frequently? Weight and ease of transport become critical factors.
- Mineral Program: Do you plan to offer a single mix or multiple custom blends? This will determine if you need a compartmentalized feeder.
A good mineral feeder isn’t a cost; it’s an investment that pays you back. By drastically reducing waste from weather and spillage, a well-designed feeder can pay for itself in less than a year. More importantly, it ensures your herd is getting the crucial nutrients they need to thrive, which is the foundation of a healthy, productive, and profitable operation.
Ultimately, paying attention to your herd’s mineral needs is a non-negotiable part of responsible animal husbandry. Choosing the right feeder ensures that your investment in high-quality minerals actually makes it to the animal. It’s a simple, practical step that separates struggling herds from thriving ones.
