THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD WINTER LICKS FOR BEEF & GOATS 2025

Diccon Robinson
Jun 4
4 min read

Winter is around the corner, and it is time to ensure that your winter licks are ready for the dry months ahead

The importance of good winter licks should not be underestimated. “The purpose of any lick supplementation is to provide animals with nutrients that are not provided by natural grazing.” This is one of the most important factors in animal production followed by correct timing of vaccinations.

“The right lick at the right time will supplement shortages in grazing to ensure the maximum grazing consumption and good animal production. The quality of roughage, especially protein, declines in the winter months and during drought conditions. Supplements become essential for optimal animal production, particularly when the protein content of grazing falls below 6 to 8%.

Protein should not be supplemented in isolation, but that energy and minerals should be supplemented with protein in a balanced lick.

The results of shortages of protein, energy and trace minerals.

Protein is usually supplemented in the form of urea, but cottonseed oilcake and soya bean oilcake, which are natural protein sources, are also often used. Ruminants that graze on low protein grass do not ingest enough protein for the microbes to grow and multiply in the rumen. This leads to a reduction in digestible grass, as a result, the grass moves through the rumen at a slower pace. Because of the slow digestion of the grass, intake is reduced and the animals get fewer nutrients from the grass. This causes them to lose condition.

Protein and energy shortages in animals usually coincide. Other symptoms that are caused by these shortages are weight loss, weak & poor growth, delayed oestrus and a decrease in milk production, leading to lower weaning weights.

One of the first signs that animals are ingesting to little protein, is dry manure with a dark colour. A decline in appetite, which in turn leads to low energy intake, is also a sign of a protein deficiency.

The right time for winter licks

The period when winter licks must be provided will depend on how sweet or sour the veld is. Summer licks usually don’t contain urea but winter and production licks contain urea. The summer lick supplementation on Highveld sour veld can be as short as three months, while it could be up to six months on Lowveld sweet veld.

Winter licks or protein supplementation ought to start as early as possible for the best results. In sour veld areas, farmers should start feeding winter licks in February, but in sweet veld areas, farmers start feeding winter licks in April. The transition from summer licks to winter licks is also an important time. I protein supplementation is delayed, animals can lose up to 30 or 40 kg body weight before a shortage is noticed.

Effective lick supplementation requires good management and good knowledge of animal requirements, as well as the value and quantity of the available roughage (grass). It is vital to start giving supplementation timeously, so as to ensure that animal requirements are met; otherwise it can lead to poor conception and low weaning weights, which in turn will have a negative impact on profitability. Animals that lose 15% of their summer weight during winter, oestrus cycle ceases. Through positive nutrition in summer, oestrus resumes when they are in good condition, causing a delay of two to three months before they are ready to be served by the bull so causing animals to give birth at the wrong time of the year instead of in September, October and November when there is green grass for milk production.

Please note the following when feeding licks

Licks are NOT full feeds only supplement to increase intake of roughage.
Never give supplements to hungry animals.
Always keep winter lick dry as they have urea in them.
Monitor animal’s intake. Cattle 40 – 80g per head and 4 – 8g for goats.
Clean water must be available at all time.
Enough roughage must be available at all times.
Enough drums for licks e.g. 1 drum per 10 animals
.make sure animals are not hungry for salt. It is recommended that animals are fed salt at least a week or ten days prior to start f lick supplementation, especially if animals have not previously received any supplementation.

Choose the right lick

The following should be taken into account when choosing a lick;

Quality and amount of grazing, and the availability of roughage
Type of grazing, sweet veld, sour veld or scrub veld.
Production stage of animals.
Condition of animals

Licks provide the following trace elements and other essential products;

Calcium – bones and teeth development
Phosphorus – Fertility & improved calving %.
Manganese – shortages delays fertilization of eggs by sperm.
Copper – Fertility
Cobalt – poor appetite and weight loss
Iron – anemic conditions in animals
Iodine – Liver function
Zinc – Rumen function & micro flora development in the rumen
Selenium – growth of animals
Urea – a source of protein
Salt – to limit intake of supplements
Molasses – palatability of licks

General recommended guide lines for licks;

FED THOUGHOUT THE YEAR. Summer Maintenance Phosphate Licks
for production and fertility of animals.
APRIL - JULY. Winter Protein Licks
to maintain body weight of pregnant cows & does to utilize poor quality dry grass.
AUGUST – OCTOBER. Production Licks
to increase birth weight of calves and kids. Also to improve early conception rates of cows serviced by Bulls during early yearly breeding season November / December

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