Salt is one of the simplest things you can offer livestock, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Walk into a feed store and you will see white blocks, red or brown trace mineral blocks, selenium blocks, loose salt and small bricks. They are not interchangeable, and the right choice depends on your animals and your area.
This guide explains the three main types of livestock salt blocks, when each is used and how to set them out. It is a general overview. For a feeding plan, talk with your veterinarian or a livestock nutritionist, and always follow the feed tag.
Why Livestock Need Salt
Grazing animals get sodium and chloride from very few natural sources, and forage alone often does not supply enough. That is why free-choice salt is a long-standing practice on farms. A block or loose salt placed where animals can reach it lets them take what they want through the day.
Plain White vs Trace Mineral vs Selenium Blocks
| Block type | What it contains | Typical use | Example we carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain white | Salt only | When you supply minerals another way, or the diet is already balanced | Cargill Plain White Salt Block, 50 lb |
| Trace mineral | Salt plus small amounts of trace minerals | General free-choice salt and mineral for many herds | Cargill Trace Mineral Salt, Anise, 50 lb |
| Selenium trace mineral | Salt, trace minerals and added selenium | Areas where soils and forage are low in selenium, used under label directions | Cargill Selenium 90 Trace Mineral Salt, 50 lb |
Plain White Salt Blocks
A white block is sodium chloride with nothing else added. It is the right pick when your animals already get minerals from a balanced feed or a separate mineral program, or when you are unsure a mineral blend fits your species. Options include the Cargill Plain White Salt Block and the American Stockman Salt Block.
Trace Mineral Blocks
Trace mineral blocks combine salt with small amounts of minerals. Blends differ between products, so the feed tag is where you confirm exactly what is inside and which species it is labeled for. These blocks are a common all-purpose choice when the tag matches your animals.
Selenium Blocks
Selenium is added in regions where soils and forage run low in it. Because selenium in feed is regulated and too much can be harmful, follow the label closely, avoid stacking several selenium sources at once and ask your veterinarian whether your area and herd call for it.
Reading a Feed Tag
Every mineral product carries a feed tag, and it answers most of the questions people ask at the counter. Look for these parts:
- Species: the animals the product is labeled for, and any it is not safe for.
- Guaranteed analysis: the salt and mineral levels in the product.
- Feeding directions: how to offer it and any limits on use.
- Cautions: warnings such as copper for sheep or selenium limits.
If the tag does not list your species, do not assume it is suitable. Ask your veterinarian or a nutritionist before offering it.
Where Loose Salt Fits Better Than a Block
Loose salt is often used for animals that are fed together from a feeder, for mixing into rations or for herds where the block wears down too slowly to meet demand. It is also easier to check at a glance, since you can see how much is left in the feeder. The tradeoff is that loose salt needs a covered feeder to stay dry, and rain can cake it into a hard crust.
Some farms use both: a block in the pasture and loose salt at the barn, where it is easy to refill during chores. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent so animals learn where to find it.
Special Cautions by Species
- Sheep: sheep are sensitive to copper. Avoid products with added copper unless the label says they are made for sheep.
- Goats: goats have their own mineral needs. Choose products labeled for goats when possible.
- Horses: many owners keep plain or mineral salt available. Ask your vet which fits your horse's feed.
- Mixed herds: when species share a pasture, the most sensitive animal sets the rules. Plain salt plus species-specific minerals is a common approach.
Blocks, Loose Salt and Bricks
Blocks are tidy, weather reasonably well and last a while. Some animals, especially those with softer tongues like sheep and goats, may struggle to get enough from a hard block, and loose salt is easier for them. Loose products such as Cargill Livestock Salt, Cargill Top-Flo Granular Salt and American Stockman Easy Flow Stock Salt go in a covered feeder.
For stalls and small pens, a smaller brick like the Champion's Choice Salt Brick, 4 lb is easier to place. Rabbits and other small animals do well with salt spools for small animals.
Setting Out and Checking Salt Blocks
Weather is the biggest factor in how a block holds up outdoors. Rain softens and wears blocks down, and a block sitting in a puddle turns into a mess that animals avoid. A simple cover or a spot under a run-in shed helps. Blocks that crack or crumble in freeze and thaw cycles are still usable, but move the pieces to a feeder so they are not lost in mud.
- Place blocks on a raised holder or a well-drained spot so they do not sit in mud or standing water.
- Put salt near water, since animals drink after using it.
- Use more than one location for a large herd so timid animals get access.
- Check blocks regularly and replace them before they are gone.
- Keep salt and mineral dry in storage, off the floor and away from moisture. Store it away from fertilizer and chemicals so there is no mix-up at feeding time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a white salt block and a trace mineral block?
A plain white block is salt only. A trace mineral block is salt with small amounts of trace minerals added. Read the feed tag on each product for its exact makeup.
Can goats use a cattle mineral block?
Goats have different mineral needs than cattle, so a block made for cattle may not suit them. Check the label for species directions and ask your veterinarian or a livestock nutritionist.
Can sheep have trace mineral salt with copper?
Use caution. Sheep are sensitive to copper, so products with added copper may not be suitable for them. Read the label and choose a product labeled for sheep.
How long does a 50 lb salt block last?
It depends on herd size, the species, weather and how much salt is in the rest of the diet. Check blocks often and replace them before they run out.
Do horses need a salt block?
Many horse owners keep plain or mineral salt available free choice. Ask your veterinarian about your horse's diet and whether a block or loose salt fits best.
Shop plain, trace mineral and selenium blocks plus loose salt in our livestock and mineral salt collection, and see deer and wildlife salt for hunting land. Buying for a whole farm? Pallets ship by LTL freight with a quote on our bulk pallet orders page. Find more answers on our FAQ page or reach out through our contact page.
