Supports all round health & vitality for all ruminant stockWhat is it?Smallholder Block offers great value for money as it is hard and concentrated and has to be licked, making it last a long time, and as a consequence is cost effective to use. Smallholder block can be offered all year round providing essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements to all classes of grazing livestock along with additional energy and protein. Smallholder block diversifies the range of Horslyx products into the small holder setting where mixed species grazing is prevalent. Smallholder Block is fed on a free access, self-help basis so they are typically consumed on a “little and often” basis throughout the day. The process of feeding ruminants is different to feeding the equine as in the ruminant dietary nutrients are first exposed to the rumen (similar in function to the equine hind gut) then to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. Within the rumen there are billions of microorganisms which allow for the utilisation of fibre and the production of energy metabolites that are available to the ruminant. Smallholder block helps boost the efficacy of these rumen bugs allowing them to get more feed value out of fibrous forages. Like the horse, the ruminant is a grazing animal and naturally eats little and often, however the major difference within the ruminant is the regurgitation, re-chewing and re-swallowing of feed in the process of chewing the cud or rumination.Licking smallholder block provides a trickle feeding system which fits into the way ruminants – such as cattle, sheep, goats, camelids and deer – naturally graze and provides them with a continuous supply of essential nutrients over a 24-hour period. Smallholder block fits in well into the smallholder situation where reliance on forages from grazing, hay, haylage or silage form the greatest proportion of the ruminants diet.