Sea Salt For Cattle Health
Without salt, life itself would not be possible. Salt is as important to life as oxygen and water. Cattle utilize salt as an essential ingredient for life.1 When it comes to cattle health and nutrition, not all salt is created equal. Most salt that is available for cattle has been refined (treated with chemicals to remove the minerals, evaporated under high compression and heat which disrupts the molecular structure of salt, and even bleached in order to obtain the white color) or mined from salt mines that are pure white, like walking into a snowball. This white salt is void of natural balance of life giving minerals in their natural state as they have been processed out by man or leeched out by nature over time leaving only sodium and chloride.
Unrefined sea salt contains much, much more. Quantitative analysis of the elements in the blood has essentially the same profile as the quantitative analysis of elements found in sea water2. This natural mineral balance is very important for optimum animal health. It gives cattle the “tools” it needs for growth, immune function, performance, etc.
Sea minerals are in crystalloid form which is defined as “a crystallizable substance which, when dissolved in a liquid will diffuse readily through animal or vegetable cell membranes”.Health care professionals are very familiar with this crystalloid state as this is the state of the minerals in hospital IVs.
Redmond Natural trace Mineral is an all natural sea salt that is mined from an ancient sea bed in Redmond, Utah. This salt mine is unique and is only one of a few in the world where the minerals have not leeched out of the salt over time. There is a layer of volcanic ash (Redmond Conditioner) that lays adjacent to and in some areas on top of the ancient sea bed and may have some effect of helping to protect the salt from water leeching the minerals out.
The conditioner itself is a remarkable product for cattle health as it also contains a plethora of minerals (60+), improves the pH level in the digestive system, improves immunity, and absorbs toxins and exports them out of the body.
Unrefined sea salt is known to have many health benefits for human health, and now your cattle can experience many of these same health benefits with the Redmond Natural Trace Mineral products. Unrefined sea salt in humans has been shown to have positive effects on most every system in the body. Unrefined salt help maintain neutral pH and helps elevate acidic pH.1 It has an ability to help lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure.1 Water and unrefined salt (including the 50+ naturally occurring trace minerals) are necessary for metabolism, detoxification, and transportation of nutrients as well as optimal functioning of the hormonal, nervous, and immune systems.1
A salt deficient diet and/or mineral deficient diet will lead to suboptimal adrenal function eventually leading to adrenal exhaustion.1 The adrenal glands not only dictate the “fight or flight” mechanism in stressful situations, in a resting state they also maintain adequate energy levels, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, and muscle strength.1 Consequences of adrenal fatigue include: fatigue, poorly functioning immune system, cancer, thyroid disorders (the thyroid gland is very sensitive to the nutritional status of the body – if vitamins and minerals are deficient, the thyroid gland will not work appropriately) , obesity, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune disorders, and many other chronic illnesses.1
With Redmond Natural Trace Mineral, ranchers have noticed improved feed efficiency, improved hoof health, healthier coats, improved reproduction, less pinkeye, and better overall herd health.
Redmond Natural Trace Mineral Salt is available in the following forms: 50 # bags, 2000lb totes, or bulk – natural trace mineral salt mined from the ground and crushed; and 44 # blocks – same product pressed into block form. Both bags and blocks are available with additional trace minerals and/or natural extracts (garlic, cloves, cinnamon, & chili peppers) for insect repellent and gut health. This same sea salt is available under the Real Salt label for humans.
Agri-Best Feeds in Billings (866 601-6646 www.agribestfeeds.com) is the regional distributor of Redmond Natural Trace Mineral Salt, Redmond Conditioner and Real Salt along with SweetPro, EquiPride, EquiLix, and Arrowquip.
1 Brownstein M.D., David. Salt Your Way to Health. Medical Alternatives Press 2006
2 Murray M.D., Maynerd. Sea Energy in Agriculture. Acres U.S.A. 2003