How mineral blocks support essential nutrients, and tips for choosing and providing them properly.

Kunekune pigs need minerals, but that does not mean every Kunekune needs a free-choice mineral block. The safest starting point is the whole diet: a properly formulated swine ration already supplies calcium, phosphorus, salt, trace minerals, and vitamins in deliberate amounts. [1] [2]

BF Farm Kunekune beside a mineral and complete-ration feeding setup

Start With the Complete Ration

Mineral supplementation decision guide for Kunekune pigs starting with a complete swine ration.

Swine mineral requirements change with age and production stage. Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, and selenium are all managed as part of a balanced diet rather than as isolated add-ons. [1] [3]

If your pigs receive a complete commercial swine feed at an appropriate amount, adding a mineral block may be unnecessary and can make it harder to know how much of individual minerals they are consuming.

Do Not Substitute a Block Made for Another Species

Cattle, sheep, goat, and horse mineral products are formulated for those species and their feeding systems. BF Farm does not recommend assuming that another livestock block is appropriate for pigs. If a supplement is needed, use a swine-specific product and follow a veterinarian or swine nutritionist's recommendation.

Pasture Does Not Guarantee Mineral Balance

Pasture is valuable forage, but it is not a reliable replacement for a balanced mineral program. Soil, plant species, season, maturity, and weather all change forage composition. A pig can graze well and still need the nutrients supplied by a complete swine ration.

Salt and Water Belong Together

Diagram showing that dietary salt for pigs must be paired with continuous access to fresh drinking water.

Salt provides sodium and chloride, but excess salt becomes particularly dangerous when water access is restricted. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times. [2] [3]

What About Deficiency Signs?

Poor growth, reproductive problems, lameness, skin changes, or unusual behavior can have many causes. Those signs should not be used to diagnose a specific mineral deficiency by appearance alone. Review the total diet and involve a veterinarian or nutritionist when a deficiency or toxicity is suspected.

BF Farm's Practical Rule

We prefer to know what is in the base ration before adding anything. If the ration is complete and the pigs are receiving enough of it to meet nutrient needs, we do not add a mineral block simply because one is available. If supplementation is warranted, it should have a clear purpose and be formulated for swine.

Sources & References

  1. University of Minnesota Extension: Formulating farm-specific swine diets
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Pigs
  3. Pork Information Gateway: Macro Minerals for Swine Diets

About the Author

This article reflects Mark Bengtson's preference for treating minerals as one part of a complete feeding program, not as a cure-all sitting in the pasture. Mineral requirements and supplementation guidance remain grounded in the cited nutrition sources.

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