Well I've always been told I'm a bit different.  :shock: Maybe we do different things for the same reasons, or the same things for different reasons? :wink:

  I don't usually feed cake, ear corn, or lick tubs to the cow herd for maintenance purposes.  Since I don't calve in winter my Herefords (and the black cows!) can rough it through winter pretty well on dormant native pasture and mediocre quality old hay.   I keep mineral out year round for the cows and let them decide to eat it or not.

  By the time I start calving in about a month, the grass should be starting to green up.  I might get some mag cake then to get some magnesium into the cows as insurance against grass tetany.  Also helps as a daily check to get those cows lined up for easy inspection of any impending problems that might come up.

  In summary, I'm not saying feeding cake is right or wrong.  Do what works for you in your own operation.  If you can honestly pencil it out and make it work for you, what anyone else thinks doesn't matter.