Lick feeders and hay feeders are not alternatives to each other. They serve completely different nutritional purposes and the best operations often use both. This guide explains what each one does, when each one is needed, and how to use them together effectively.
When farmers ask about lick feeders versus hay feeders, it usually comes from a place of trying to work out what to prioritise when budget is limited or paddock space is a consideration. The question makes sense on the surface, but it rests on a misunderstanding about what these two pieces of equipment actually provide for your herd. Once that is clear, the decision becomes much simpler.
What a Hay Feeder Provides
A hay feeder delivers dry matter energy. When pasture is short, dry, or of poor quality, hay is how you maintain the energy intake your cattle need to hold condition, maintain production, and support growth. Without adequate energy intake, cattle lose condition no matter how good the mineral and supplement program is. Energy is the foundation.
Our Round Hay Feeder is designed for the practical reality of Queensland feeding programs. The circular design lets multiple animals access the bale simultaneously, reducing competition and making sure feed gets distributed through the mob rather than dominated by the most assertive animals. Keeping the hay elevated reduces wastage significantly compared to ground feeding, which means more of your hay budget actually converts to cattle nutrition rather than rotting into the paddock.
Hay feeders are a seasonal tool in most operations. They are brought into regular use when pasture condition drops below the level needed to maintain the mob, typically in dry seasons or after extended wet periods that have resulted in poor pasture quality. The timing varies by property and season, but the principle is consistent. When the paddock can’t carry the herd on its own, a hay feeder is how you bridge the gap.
What a Lick Feeder Provides
A lick feeder delivers minerals, trace elements, and in some formulations, bypass protein and energy supplements in concentrated form. The cattle self-regulate their intake based on what their bodies are deficient in, which is one of the advantages of lick feeding over manual supplementation. Rather than guessing how much supplement each animal needs and delivering it by hand, the lick feeder makes the supplement available and the cattle take what they need.
Queensland soils are commonly deficient in several key minerals, particularly phosphorus, which is critical for growth and reproduction. Cattle grazing on Queensland pastures without mineral supplementation will often be running below optimal mineral status even when their energy intake is adequate. Mineral deficiency shows up as reduced growth rates, poor reproductive performance, and a general failure to thrive that is not explained by pasture quality or energy intake.
Our Lick Feeder is designed for year-round use on Queensland properties, with a barrel design that keeps supplement protected from rain while remaining accessible to cattle at all times. The weather protection is particularly important in Queensland’s wet season, where exposed lick supplements can dissolve and be lost before cattle access them.
Using Both Together
The most effective nutritional program for Queensland cattle typically uses both a hay feeder and a lick feeder, but with different timing and for different purposes. The lick feeder runs year-round, providing continuous access to mineral supplementation regardless of the season. The hay feeder comes into active use when pasture quality and availability drops below the level needed to maintain the mob.
When both are in use simultaneously, position them well apart. Cattle crowding around both the hay feeder and the lick feeder at the same time creates competition and means some animals are being pushed away from one or both before they have taken what they need. Placing them 50 or more metres apart and in different parts of the paddock means cattle can move between them without competition pressure from the mob around the other feeder.
What About Horses?
Both the Round Hay Feeder and the Lick Feeder suit horses as well as cattle, with the same principles applying. Horses have significant individual variation in mineral requirements, and the self-regulation aspect of lick feeding is particularly useful for mixed horse herds where individual supplementation is impractical. Check that any lick supplement you use is appropriate for horses if your horse and cattle paddocks share feeders.
Getting the Right Feeders for Your Operation
Browse our full cattle feeder range to see specifications on both the Round Hay Feeder and the Lick Feeder. If you have questions about which supplement types suit the lick feeder, or how to set up a combined feeding program for your property, the team at SEQ Rural Steel and Fencing can point you in the right direction. Get in touch for a free quote.
