Most donkey, horse and mule owners may not think about salt. Did you know that salt blocks were actually designed for cattle? Cows have rough tongues that can easily lick the block. A block of salt is better than nothing at all. The best is loose (granular) salt.
Donkeys, mules and horses have smoother tongues than a cow and may not actually get their needed amount of salt from a block. They may end up biting the block in an attempt to get more, which can lead to teeth and jaw or tooth problems. The equine suffering from salt- deficient may lick or chew on objects or may actually lick or eat dirt.
Test your hay to find out how much selenium is in your hay?
Hay for donkeys, never feed alfalfa hay. Test all forage (hay or straw) the goal is 10% or lower in sugar and protein. Send hay samples off to Equine Analytical Lab before purchasing enough low sugar/protein hay for your donkeys for the year.
If you have no selenium in your hay purchase equine salt with selenium.
If your hay has selenium purchase salt with no selenium.
No worries about equine over consuming lose salt as equine will only consume the amount of salt they need.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner
Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm ® and commented:
Salt For Donkeys Lose Is Better
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[…] Preventing colic is one of the most important things we can do for the stoic donkey, stoic meaning will not show pain until it is too late in most cases. We provide free lose granular salt, clean water, and tested hay in a slow feeder. All three miniature donkeys in the video below just licked some lose salt. Read my blog salt lose is better. […]
[…] Read Salt for Donkeys Lose Is Better […]