How Free-Choice Mineral Feeders Help Keep Our Livestock Healthier, Happier, and More Resilient

How Free-Choice Mineral Feeders Help Keep Our Livestock Healthier, Happier, and More Resilient

At Caney Fork Farms, we’re always looking for ways to raise healthier animals, regenerate our land, and better understand the needs of our ecosystem. That’s why we’re excited to share one of the newest additions to our regenerative livestock program: free-choice mineral feeders for our cattle and sheep.

These feeders may seem simple, but they play a powerful role in supporting animal health and performance, improving soil biology, and helping us become even more attentive stewards of the land.

What Are Free-Choice Mineral Feeders?

Our new mineral feeders are stationed directly in our pastures, where they’re always accessible to our grazing livestock. Each feeder has multiple compartments that we refill regularly, before they ever run out, so our animals always have access to the full spectrum of essential minerals.

This free-choice approach allows each animal to select what it needs, when it needs it. Whether it’s copper, selenium, magnesium, or any other vital trace mineral, our cattle and sheep can meet their own unique nutritional needs at any given time. No waiting, no deficiency buildup.

Why Minerals Matter in Regenerative Grazing Systems

Even in the most thoughtfully managed pasture systems, forage alone may not provide every nutrient our livestock require throughout the year. Soil type, weather patterns, and plant diversity all influence the mineral content of the grasses and forbs our animals eat.

By offering a full range of minerals, we give our animals the opportunity to balance their own diets in response to seasonal shifts, stressors, and subtle physiological needs. This results in:

  • Healthier immune systems
  • Better weight gain and fertility
  • Higher quality meat and wool
  • Reduced dependence on synthetic supplements or treatments

Observing Mineral Use Helps Us Learn and Adapt

One of the most powerful aspects of these free-choice mineral feeders is the feedback loop they create. We can track which minerals are being consumed more or less frequently, allowing us to identify patterns and potential deficiencies within the herd or even within specific pastures.

This real-time insight helps us:

  • Improve our pasture management strategies
  • Monitor the overall wellbeing of our livestock
  • Enhance the nutrient density of the food we produce
  • Deepen our understanding of soil and plant health connections

Better for the Animals, Better for the Land

Free-choice mineral feeders are one more way we’re working to raise livestock in harmony with nature. This system respects the intelligence of the animals, reduces stress, and supports natural resilience, all while reinforcing the core principles of regenerative agriculture.

We believe that when animals are allowed to thrive, the land and the people who depend on it thrive too.


Interested in learning more about how we care for our pasture-raised livestock at Caney Fork Farms?

Explore our Regenerative Meat CSA and taste the difference that comes from farming with intention, integrity, and care.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.