Dirt Eating by Feedlot Cattle

Comments by James I. Sprague, Beef Nutritionist

Every feedlot employee knows the frustration of finding a dead animal in a hole in the pen. The hole is a result of cattle eating dirt. Some animals lay down in holes and can't get out, resulting in death. We have suspected eating dirt is the result of a "depraved" appetite. It is my opinion dirt eating is a natural behavior of ruminant animals. There may be several causes for dirt eating. Here are several possibilities:

--Do cattle have a natural craving for dirt because they are attempting to find trace mineral? Most of the traces come from the plant material and only part is supplemented.

--Are cattle looking for the major mineral: sodium? In the case of range animals, they have areas of soil where they get their sodium requirements.

--In the case of potassium, feedlot rations are low in potassium compared to grass or forage rations. Soils on the high plains are high in potassium. This may be the cause of dirt eating.

--Possibly calcium or magnesium is deficient in the feedlot ration. At least one nutritionist has reported that magnesium supplementation helps dirt eating.

What About Feeding Dirt

Dr. Bart Carden, a highly respected nutritionist and former executive of the Arizona Milling Company, told me of an example dirt eating. The experiment was to compare cattle that were confined to concrete slats compared to open dirt pens. His manager said cattle on the dirt were eating considerable dirt and appeared to be doing better than the cattle on the slats. After dirt was fed to the confined animals the performance appeared to improve.

I have known of cattle feeders to offer dirt free choice. It was offered at the end of the bunk, sort of like offering a free choice mineral. The cattle would consume some dirt. The tactic is used to prevent eating holes in the pens and under the fences.

I have also observed, after a posting of a dead cow, several pounds of sand in the bottom of the rumen. These cows were on sand hill range in Colorado.

Tactics to Help Reduce Dirt Eating

Fill holes in pens with manure that will pack. Manure contains considerable dirt, and the mixture of the dirt and the manure will pack like linoleum if the manure contains some moisture. In some cases, put dirt in the bottom of the hole and manure on top. Pen skimming and leaving a layer of manure on the soil is suggested to prevent dirt eating and allow the harvesting of manure with less dirt content.

Prevent Dirt Eating with Ration Formulation

I do not know of anything that works. Certainly a balanced mineral program is important for performance. Adequate roughage helps. Limited rations may cause more dirt eating. Cattle will actually eat the whole grain from the manure if a high energy ration is limited.

Your comments will be appreciated. Send information to: Jim Sprague, 1021 N. 2nd St., Garden City, KS 67846.