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RE: [RC] re: lack of interest in salt blocks - Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVMHI Angie - I'm glad you spoke up! I was getting worried cause a 40 lb block lasts the better part of 6 months at my place (I only have 2 horses though). Even with the 104 record we hit here in Richmond yesterday they are drinking and licking about the same. There's a wide variation in the natural sodium content of different hays and grasses. As long as the salt block is available and a decent quality (ie, scrub off the rind of grunge with a wire brush every now and then so they don't have to gnaw through it to get to the salt), I wouldn't worry much. If I'm working the horse fairly hard, then I also like to have some loose salt available to them, I just throw a few handfuls into their feeder. But I've noticed differences in their salt consumption between different (thirty ton) loads of hay. Sodium is about the only mineral that animal develop a specific craving for when deficient, so if they need it, and it's available, they'll eat what they need. JMO. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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