| An Integrated, Homemade, Portable Salt/Mineral Feeder and External Parasite Control Cattle Rub Tool |
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• Salt, Mineral, and Ionophore Nutrition
• Fly, Lice, Grub, and Tick Control
• Rotational Grazing Forage Management
• Grazing Livestock Management
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Summary
History
Research
General Characteristics
Some Cattle Benefits
Economics
Limitations
The Feeder and Cattle Rub Management
Salt, Mineral, and Ionophore Feeder
Cattle Rub
Fly Prevention and Control
Lice Prevention
Grub Prevention
Tick Prevention
Within All Functions
Pasture Management Uses
Insecticides for Cattle Rubs and Dust Bags
Materials and Construction Parameters
Schematic Diagram
Accessories
Other Successful Models
Forced Use of the Cattle Rub
Commercial Equipment
One Final Comment
References
Literature Cited
The usual means of forcing exposure to the tool is done by placing it in lanes or gateways where cattle must pass to get to a water point or some other definite need of the day (Figure 49). Lanes and gateways can be permanent locations or temporary just for the forced use. Forced use is usually associated with a permanent location of a cattle rub, but we do not advocate that in rotational stocking units.
 Figure 49. An example of the tool positioned in a lane to force cattle to learn to use the tool. |
When we developed the first models of these all-inclusive tools for our own use, we were not able to locate any commercial models that include all the parameters of use that we needed. Many aspects were always missing and none were as portable as we needed the tool to be in rotational stocking units. In recent times, there has been a commercial tool developed that has most of the integrated parts of our homemade tool, but that tool is not readily portable and would have to be outfitted with runners or wheels to work well in rotational stocking units. That unit also costs about five- to ten-fold the materials cost of our good medium- to highest-cost models. Commercial salt and mineral feeders and cattle rub tools can be located in trade magazines and from private brand livestock equipment dealers.
Some graziers have expressed a desire to combine available commercial salt-mineral feeders and a commercial cattle rub tool into one tool. This would include installation of runners or wheels for portability. That is a viable idea that would shorten the construction time. The models in Figures 41 (bottom) and 48 show ways this has been done. A schematic drawing of such a possible combined tool illustrates another model of the idea (Figure 50). The maker of such a combined tool should be sure that it can do all the jobs needed. Costs for materials would likely be more than for a homemade tool.
 Figure 50. A schematic of a commercial salt/mineral feeder (left) and a cattle rub (right). |
Within all the homemade models of the tool and commercial combinations to create the tool, lies a great variation of many good tools, all properly designed to perform the functions discussed. The overall system of the tool is very variable and dynamic. It behooves the grazier to learn, be intuitive, and be innovative to capture the accumulated benefits of the tool for their grazing operation.
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