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Loose Licks

Loose licks are a simple way to cover mineral gaps when cows are grazing, and daily intake can vary. They suit winter pasture and crop systems, late lactation feeding, and situations where you want a free-choice option that cows will come back to.

The main risks with loose licks are usually not the lick itself. They come from timing and intake: starting too late, assuming every cow is eating enough, or relying on a lick when the diet has changed fast (crop step-ups, supplement changes, springer moves).

This page is your quick guide to:

  • When loose lick risks tend to show up
  • What to do right now
  • What to watch for
  • Which product types fit which systems

Talk to your Agvance Consultant today.

Jump to

Timing and risk windows
What to do this week
What to monitor
Matching products to your system
Loose lick FAQs
Products

Timing and risk windows

Start-up (first 7–14 days on a loose lick)

  • The first risk window is when you put the lick out for the first time, or when you swap to a different lick. Some cows will get into it early, while shy feeders hang back. If you are relying on the lick for a specific mineral gap, be aware of the potential uneven early intake.
  • Placement and access will help most for this. Ensuring there are enough bins, placed where cows naturally linger, with space so low-ranking cows can get time at the lick.
  •  

Winter feeding (pasture and winter crops)

  • Loose licks or free choice tend to get used most in winter when cows are on pasture and forage cropes and the ration can be lacking in some minerals. This is when intakes can shift as weather and grazing pressures can change day to day.
  • If you are wintering on fodder beet, read the Fodder beet solution page, and match the lick to the crop system instead of using a general blend.

Late winter to calving (springers in the mix)

  • If springers are in the same winter mob, or you are shifting close-up cows through the same areas, be careful using a general loose lick as your main plan. Close-up cows can need a more targeted approach.
  • If you have a close-up group, look at Free Choice Transition Starter as the better fit for that window.

What to do this week

  • Write down the actual ration for each mob (crop type, pasture, silage, straw, in-shed feed) and decide whether a loose lick is the main delivery method or a back-up.
  • Check lick access: Bin numbers, placement, and whether shy feeders are getting time at the lick.
  • If cows have just changed diet (crop step-up, silage change, new paddock type), do not treat the lick as the be-all and end-all. Adjust the transition plan first. A useful read is The Link Between Winter Nutrition and a Smooth Transition.
  • If you are feeding fodder beet, use a crop-specific lick rather than a general blend. Start with Premium Fodder Beet Loose Lick.
  • If your winter mob includes springers, separate the plan for that group and use a product built for the close-up period.

What to monitor

In the paddock

  • Intake pattern at the lick (Rush in the first days, then drop-off, or bullying at the bins).
  • Uneven cows in the mob (some thriving, some flat or behind).
  • Manure consistency through diet changes (this is usually where you’ll see a sudden shift first).
  • Water access near lick sites (intake and behaviour can change if cows are queued at troughs).
 

On paper

  • How quickly the mob is changing ration (crop allocation and supplement amounts).
  • BCS trend through winter (mob by mob, not just a farm average).
  • Any mineral testing plan you already run with your vet (timing it around changes gives you better signals than random sampling).

Matching products to your system

Agvance has loose lick and free-choice options that suit different feeding setups. Use the below as a starting point and match it to what cows are actually eating.

Free-choice loose licks (Best when cows are grazing and you want a simple option)

 

Crop-specific loose lick (Best when fodder beet is the majority part of the diet)

 

Close-up group (Best when springers move into the 21-day transition window)

Loose licks FAQs

When do loose licks make the most sense?

When cows are grazing and you want a free-choice option to cover mineral gaps, especially through winter pasture and crop feeding.

Assuming every cow is eating enough. Intake can be uneven, especially in the first 7–14 days or when bins are crowded.

Put out enough bins, place them where cows naturally gather, and allow space so low-ranking cows can access the lick without getting pushed off.

If fodder beet is a big part of the ration, start with a crop-specific lick like Premium Fodder Beet Loose Lick, rather than hoping a general blend will cover the gaps.

It is often cleaner to run a separate transition plan. For that group, Free Choice Transition Starter is the better fit than relying on a general lick.

Bin placement, cow flow, water nearby, and whether the mob is distracted by a big ration change. Fix access and routine first.

Recommended products

Have more questions or ready to order?

Your Agvance Consultant can help you set up a loose lick plan that matches your system and the time of year. Get in touch today. Ready to order? Simply head to My Account, log in or register, and complete your order online.

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