Why are my cattle consuming more than the specified amount?
1. Follow directions as to the number of cattle per tub. If a tub is designed for 25 head, ensure you have at least 25 head or a few more on the tub. Over consumption can result when we have 10-15 head on a tub meant for 25 cows. If we have those small groups, put a salt block or rock on the top of the tub to restrict the surface area available. What about those situations where we have 35 cows, do we put out 2 tubs? Our experience has been not to put out 2 tubs until we get to 40 head.
2. Make sure to use tubs in the season they are made for. In order to achieve the correct consumption, we cook tubs for summer consumption at higher temperatures. This crystalizes more of the sugars and makes these tubs harder so they will hold up to higher summer temps. For example, if we feed a summer cooked tub in mid winter with cold temps, we will restrict consumption more than we want and short cattle on the nutrients they need. On the other hand, if we feed a winter cooked tub in mid summer with high temps, cows will eat much more than they need. Each tub has a date label on the top of the tub telling you when they were made. Rotating inventories to keep tubs in season will result in satisfied customers.
3. Feed tubs in the shade in summer and in the sun in the winter. This also helps maintain correct consumption. You do not have to be concerned about location of tubs relative to water. When bitters were used to control consumption, moving tubs away from water restricted consumption, but cooked molasses tubs control consumption due to hardness. Locating tubs can be helpful though. If we locate tubs in areas of pasture we need to graze, the tubs will draw cattle into these areas.