In the Field: Build a Mineral Buffet
Step beyond mineral blocks with a mineral buffet trailer, which allows livestock to select exactly what they need and nothing more.
A mineral buffet allows cattle to choose from a variety of minerals based on their needs. While commercial units are available, Oklahoma rancher Ethan Beasley built his own using an old trailer, scrap metal and lumber. The result is a portable, weather-protected mineral feeder that can be moved from pasture to pasture and customized to fit any operation.
The design is simple: a repurposed trailer lined with wood, divided into individual mineral compartments and covered with a metal roof to keep minerals dry. The key is building it sturdy enough to withstand curious cattle and daily use.
Materials:
- Old utility trailer or small U-Haul-style trailer
- Treated lumber for lining the trailer
- Treated lumber for dividers
- Screws and fasteners
- Square tubing for roof supports
- Sheet metal or tin roofing panels
- Strap iron or flat steel (optional, for mineral labels)
- Welder
- Trailer jack
- Steel legs or stabilizers for trailer corners
- Paint (optional)
Instructions:
- Start with a trailer. Find a used utility trailer that can be dedicated to mineral feeding. Beasley used an old U-Haul trailer that was similar in size to commercially available mineral buffet systems.
- Line the interior. Install wood along the inside walls and floor of the trailer to create a solid base for the mineral compartments.
- Build the compartments. Add wooden dividers to create separate bins for different mineral offerings. Space and number of compartments can vary based on your mineral program. Tip: Don’t skimp on divider strength, as cattle can quickly break weak dividers. Reinforce them well with supports, rather than relying on a few screws.
- Add a roof. Using square tubing, build a simple frame over the trailer and attach sheet metal roofing panels. The roof protects minerals from rain and helps reduce waste.
- Install stabilizing legs. Weld legs onto the corners of the trailer. Once the buffet is moved into place, lower the trailer onto the legs. This will prevent it from tipping over when cattle rub against it.
- Label compartments. If desired, weld mineral abbreviations or labels onto the feeder so each compartment is easy to identify.
- Make it cattle-safe. Inspect the entire unit for places where cattle could become trapped or injured.
- Fill and place. Fill each compartment with the desired mineral products, and move the buffet to the pasture. Keep an eye on consumption, especially during summer when cattle may consume minerals more heavily.
A mineral buffet won’t replace good grazing management, but it can provide cattle access to a wider range of mineral options while giving producers a durable, portable feeding system built largely from materials already sitting around the ranch.
