Sources of mineral supplies essential to the balance of the feed ration.
Mineral feeds can come in the form of pellets, fine granular feed, powders or licking blocks.
They are used for all animal species, although cattle are the largest consumers (80% of the volumes produced).
Around 400,000 tonnes of mineral feed are produced in France every year.
A mineral feed is a complementary feed composed mainly of minerals and containing at least 40% crude ash. It is presented as pellets, fine granular feed, powder, or licking blocks (buckets, blocks, tubs)…
Mineral feed provides a source of essential minerals for the balanced nutrition of all types of animals. It provides macro mineral elements (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium…) along with numerous trace elements (zinc, copper, manganese…) and may be enriched in vitamins or other nutriments.
The amounts distributed vary from 20 to 400 grammes per day depending on the species, the physiological stage and the level of production. The mineral feed is mainly distributed in the basic ration or may be incorporated upstream in the feed. Farmers manufacturing their feed on the farm incorporate the minerals into the feed themselves.
The adjustments in the doses of minerals, trace elements and vitamins are essential to meet the needs of growth, reproduction and production… and avoid any deficiency that would be harmful for the animal.
Dairy cows are the largest consumers of mineral feed, with daily amounts of up to 600 g (when they contain sodium bicarbonate), not forgetting the dry period which remains a key moment for distributing a mineral to prepare the next lactation. The use of minerals in suckler cows is increasing to ensure healthy cows and calf vitality. Goats, ewes, pigs and poultry also require mineral supplementation.
It is a seasonal market, very related to the dairy sector in which mineral feed manufacturers are full partners. The other aspect is product support and advice for breeders of pigs and poultry that manufacture their feed on the farm.
