Mineral	Summit TwinLix Salt Block 2.5kg
Salt	89
Calcium (Ca)	2.79
Copper (Cu) mg/kg	1250
Zinc (Zn) mg/kg	580
Iodine (I) mg/kg	94
Cobalt (Co) mg/kg	65
Selenium (Se) mg/kg	3
Iron (Fe) mg/kg	89
Magnesium (Mg)	0
Flavour	Yes
Application	Make blocks freely available all year round
Animal exclusions	Texel sheep due to copper
Packaging	20kg cartons (4 packs of 2 x 2.5kg blocks blocks)

Dose Rates: make salt blocks freely available as required
2.5kg blocks – sheep, goats, camelids – 1 block per 10 head, 1 block should last +20 days, consumption 5-10g/head/day
2.5kg blocks – horses, cattle, deer – 1 block per head, 1 block should last +75 days, consumption 15-25g/head/day

 

Warnings:

• For animal treatment only.
• Make sure animals have access to fresh water when feeding salt.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose rates.
• Do not use at the same time as any other selenised fertilizer prill or product without consulting a veterinarian.
• Do not use with other copper supplements, including compound feeds, especially with young animals, without consulting a veterinarian.

Sodium and Production

Salt is lost in milk, urine, faeces, sweat and saliva. And it is not insignificant – a cow milking 20 litres/day can lose the equivalent of 35g of salt in the milk each day. Pasture can be low in sodium and bulk feeds are often deficient. The benefits of sodium supplementation have been demonstrated in NZ and overseas.

Animals have a strong appetite for salt but individual salt needs will vary. Factors influencing needs include:

• Sodium and chloride levels in the pasture
• Sodium and chloride levels in the water
• The production cycle – growth, reproduction and lactation will increase requirements
• Temperature/humidity – sweating will increase sodium requirements
• Potassium levels in the diet – animals will try to balance high potassium feeds with additional salt to maintain fluid balance
• Low sodium levels in bulk feeds

Summit Salt Blocks are a cost effective way of supplementing essential minerals while providing the salt required to maintain production and health.

Summit recommends:

• Salt in some form should be available at all times all year around
• Salt blocks should be available at all times when grazing Lucerne
• More salt is available to lactating, young and growing animals
• More salt is available when feeding fibrous feeds
• Salt blocks should be available when grazing pasture recently fertilized with potassium

Minerals

The following minerals are used in the Summit Salt Block range:

Mineral	Function	Deficiency Symptoms
Calcium, Ca	Component of bones and teeth. Required for nerve and muscle function	Severe growth stunting. Dental issues
Magnesium, Mg	Required by enzymes/hormones and for the nervous system	Grass staggers, milk fever
Sodium, Na	Maintains fluid balance, required for nerve function, maintains pH in the rumen	Reduced appetite, abnormal licking, reduced production
Copper, Cu	Bone growth, pigmentation, enzymes	Lameness, illthrift, faded coat, poor conception rates
Selenium, Se	Important in the production of anti-oxidant and functioning of the immune system	Illthrift, diarrhoea, abortion, retained placenta, white muscle disease in lambs
Cobalt, Co	Required for vitamin B12 production, which is important for protein metabolism	Illthrift, loss of appetite, reduced milk production
Iodine, I	Essential for thyroid function which controls development and metabolism	Enlarged thyroid, low milk production, low reproductive efficiency, lamb mortality
Zinc, Zn	Essential for enzyme systems, immunity and hoof health	Reduced appetite, low growth rates; wool, hoof and horn weakness