Tim, I'm convinced that a good mineral is a critical part of conception and successful calving.

I have tried bagged minerals of several brands, kelp meal, etc in a couple different style feeders. The problem with all of them is that they don't get consumed.

Went back to what my long time cattleman neighbor suggested long ago, Crystalyx Mineral-lyx in drums. I use the returnable 250 lb steel drums which our local feed store stocks. It does come in several different types of containers. I have a barrel out year around.

I find Mineral-lyx gets consumed by the entire herd. People say it's expensive, and yes it is, but what's a healthy newborn calf worth these days? These 250 lb barrels are very heavy but I pick mine up on pallets and move them around with forks on the skid steer. In the summer when I'm rotating frequently I will set the barrel out near the waterer being used along with a white salt block in a tray. Mineral-lyx has no salt.