Soil licking

[claire1976]

Maggie has taken to licking the soil in her field. She is in a 9 acre field with young cows and my sisters gelding. The grass is a good mixture but quite rich in places.
I understand licking soil is a sign of mineral deficiency but not sure how to approach the problem. She's not on any hard feed so I can't add a supplement. For one, she doesn't need any hard feed and secondly she's not interested in a bucket feed when there's grass, even if I bring her in she won't eat it.
If I put a mineral lick in the field - will the calves use it and in a 9 acre paddock will she actually be bothered to find it?!
Any advice appreciated!

 

[comicduo]

If you get one of the big licks it won't matter if the cows use it as they last for ages. Put it in her fave part of the field and she will use it if she needs to, perhaps you should consider feeding good doer or a simlar chaff based feed to both horses and you could give a general suppliment like selivite.

 

[AmyMay]

We have a big salt lick in the fields - and the horses still have a go at the soil.

 

[claire1976]

[ QUOTE ]
If you get one of the big licks it won't matter if the cows use it as they last for ages. Put it in her fave part of the field and she will use it if she needs to, perhaps you should consider feeding good doer or a simlar chaff based feed to both horses and you could give a general suppliment like selivite.

[/ QUOTE ]

Like I said though - she won't eat a bucket feed in the summer and certainly she wouldn't lower helself to eating chaff when there's grass!!
Might consider a lick then if that's the best option.

 

[emma_lg]

I have seen many horses lick and even eat soil...tho they have complete diets...they still do it...maybe it is just for the taste of something different!!!