di calcium phosphate
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 468

I been having a hard time finding it this year. I finally found some and the price went up from 18 dollars to 28 dollars a bag. It is almost becoming cheaper to buy already mixed deer mineral. It costs me around 200 dollars to make 500lb of mineral mix. Even the other stuff I mix in w it went up in price.
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,917

I quit mixing my own a long time ago. The trace mineral salt blocks available at most co-ops are cheaper, easier and just as effective.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pro...b?cm_vc=-10005
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pro...b?cm_vc=-10005
#3
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: MS
Posts: 343

Local feed store ran out of mineral blocks, so I had to settle for a plain ole salt block. Deer seem to not care cause they are tearing the block up. Not sure if salt benefits a deer or not, but they sure do like it.

#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 282

Deer, cows and some other ruminant animals can sense salt deficiency in their own bodies. That's why they will sometimes go out of their way to seek out salt sources. If you happen to live in a place where other people have salt licks out, your blocks tend to last longer than places where salt is harder for them to find. There are a lot of other variables to consider, as well. I've had really good luck with Ranch House brand and the American Stockman Big 6 blocks. They seem to hold together better than other brands I've used(for cattle, that is. I'm in Illinois, so I cant leave them out for deer).
As far as the Di-Cal is concerned, it contains phosphorous, which is good for antler growth. However, its not particularly palatable, so people usually mix it with salt and molasses to get deer to eat it. You should check with your local feedmill. Any feedmill that does their own pre-mixing should have the ingredients to mix a loose mineral supplement that the deer will love. We mix a mineral supplement for cattle here, and cost for us is around 40 cents per pound. $200 for a 500# batch, isn't too bad at all.
As far as the Di-Cal is concerned, it contains phosphorous, which is good for antler growth. However, its not particularly palatable, so people usually mix it with salt and molasses to get deer to eat it. You should check with your local feedmill. Any feedmill that does their own pre-mixing should have the ingredients to mix a loose mineral supplement that the deer will love. We mix a mineral supplement for cattle here, and cost for us is around 40 cents per pound. $200 for a 500# batch, isn't too bad at all.
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,186

Plain "white salt" has little benefit to wild game but for sure deer like the stuff. The di-cal provides good benefits, but as mentioned costs 4X plain salt. I have never had deer come to only di-cal, however a mix of di-cal and white salt works great.