Coleman Stock Feeds

If you run cattle in North Queensland or the Northern Territory, phosphorus is the single most important nutrient you need to think about. Phosphorus deficiency quietly costs producers across northern Australia millions of dollars every year — in lower weaning rates, slower weight gain, weaker breeders, and higher mortality. The good news is that it's also one of the most fixable nutritional problems on northern country. This guide covers what phosphorus does, why northern soils don't have enough of it, and how a properly designed supplementation program pays for itself many times over. Why Phosphorus Matters Phosphorus is one of the most important minerals in a cow's body. Around 80% of the phosphorus in cattle is locked up in bones and teeth, with the rest involved in nearly every vital body function — energy metabolism, muscle and tissue development, milk production, fertility, and foetal development. When cattle don't get enough phosphorus, the body starts pulling it out of the bones to keep core functions running. That works for a while, but eventually the deficit shows up as: Lower weaning rates — breeders fail to cycle and reconceive Reduced weaner weights — calves born lighter and grow slower Slower weight gain in growing stock — steers and heifers don't hit target weights Bone weakness and breakages — cattle showing classic "peg-leg" symptoms Bone chewing (pica) — visible behavioural sign of severe deficiency, which also raises botulism risk Higher mortality — in severely deficient herds, particularly in lactating breeders The frustrating part is that mild-to-moderate phosphorus deficiency often shows no obvious symptoms. Cattle look okay, but herd performance is quietly running 10–20% below where it should be. Why Northern Country Is P-Deficient Most of the soils across North Queensland and the Northern Territory are naturally low in plant-available phosphorus. The basalt downs around Charters Towers, the granite country, the sandy ridges, the goldfield soils, much of the Gulf and the Barkly Tableland — all of them sit somewhere on the deficient-to-acutely-deficient spectrum. When soil phosphorus is low, the pasture growing on that soil is also low in phosphorus. Cattle eating that pasture can't physically consume enough grass to meet their daily P requirements — even if the paddock is full of feed. The Queensland Government's FORAGE soil phosphorus map (longpaddock.qld.gov.au) is a useful starting point if you want to check the indicative P status of your country. But the practical reality is that if you're running cattle anywhere in the northern grazing belt, you almost certainly need to be supplementing phosphorus. How Much Phosphorus Do Cattle Need Daily phosphorus requirements vary by stock class and season. Industry guidelines (drawing on MLA and FutureBeef research) suggest: Wet season: 6–10g P per head per day Dry season: 2–5g P per head per day Lactating breeders: 10g P per cow-calf unit per day during the wet Growing steers and heifers: 3–5g P per head per day during the wet Dry cows: Around 5g P per head per day during the wet The wet season is when phosphorus delivers the biggest payback. Pasture is growing, cattle are gaining weight, breeders are cycling, and demand for P is at its peak. A well-run wet season P program can put significant extra kilograms on weaners and dramatically improve breeder reconception rates. Wet Season vs Dry Season P There's a long-running debate about whether to feed phosphorus year-round or only during the wet. The research is now fairly clear: Wet season P delivers the greatest economic benefit. Pasture is high in protein and energy but low in phosphorus, so P becomes the limiting nutrient. Supplementing during the wet drives weight gain, breeder fertility, and weaner growth. Trial work from Kidman Springs showed wet season phosphorus producing nearly 12 tonnes of extra calf weight over the first three calf drops. Dry season P is also valuable, particularly for younger growing stock and lactating breeders, but at lower intake rates. By the middle of the dry, pasture is so deficient in protein and energy that P intake drops back regardless. Including 2–5g of P in dry season urea licks helps maintain body P reserves and avoids a deficit going into the next wet. The biggest practical challenge with wet season P is access. Boggy roads, flooded creeks, and remote paddocks can make supplement delivery difficult — exactly when cattle need P the most. Bulk delivery before the wet, bulka bag distribution to lick sites, and weather-resistant block formulations all help solve the access problem. Lick Blocks vs Loose Lick Both have their place, and the right choice depends on your country, your stock, and your management system. Lick blocks suit: Self-fed paddock supplementation in remote or hard-to-access country Properties without lick sheds or troughs Areas where weather-resistance and long shelf life matter Smaller mobs where bulk loose lick isn't economic Coleman's Cape Blocks and Basalt Blocks are formulated for self-metered intake on northern pasture, with balanced phosphorus, trace minerals, vitamins, and protein. They're durable, weather-resistant, and made on-site in Charters Towers — which means fresher product, custom formulations, and faster turnaround than blocks trucked up from southern manufacturers. Loose lick supplements suit: Larger operations with established lick sheds or troughs Properties where intake needs to be carefully controlled Targeted wet or dry season programs with specific P, urea, or protein levels Stations where bulk delivery and bulka bag distribution work logistically Custom loose lick formulations let you fine-tune the supplement to your soil type, pasture composition, stock class, and seasonal goals. We can blend wet season high-P licks, dry season urea-based licks with P top-ups, weaner support licks, and everything in between. Custom Mixing Pays Off Generic phosphorus supplements are designed for "average" northern country — but average country doesn't really exist. Every property has its own combination of soil types, pasture mix, water quality, stock class, and management calendar. A custom-mixed lick formulated for your property will outperform an off-the-shelf product almost every time. When we mix a custom phosphorus lick or block at Coleman Stock Feeds, we're looking at: Your soil type and indicative P status Pasture composition (native, stylo-improved, mixed) Stock class — breeders, weaners, growing steers, mixed mob Target intake per head per day Wet vs dry season formulation Inclusion of trace minerals, vitamins, and protein meals as needed Block hardness and weather-resistance (for paddock self-feeding) Bulk, bagged, or bulka bag delivery It costs no more to mix a feed properly the first time than to put up with a generic product that's leaving production on the table. The Return on Phosphorus Supplementation Phosphorus supplementation isn't a cost — it's an investment with a measurable return. On acutely P-deficient country, properly run P programs typically pay for themselves within one to four years through: Higher weaning rates Heavier weaner weights Better breeder reconception Faster growth in steers and heifers Lower mortality Stronger overall herd condition Modelling work from MLA and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries on P-deficient country in the Fitzroy and Katherine regions has consistently shown phosphorus supplementation as one of the highest-return investments a northern beef business can make. Talk to Us About Your Phosphorus Program We've been manufacturing custom phosphorus blocks and loose lick supplements in Charters Towers since 1986, and we work with cattle producers right across North Queensland and the Northern Territory. As cattle producers ourselves, we know what works on northern country — and we'll design a P supplementation program that suits your property, your stock, and your budget. Call us on (07) 4787 3833 for a custom feed quote, nutritional advice, or to discuss your phosphorus supplementation strategy. View Our Products | Contact Us Coleman Stock Feeds is a family-owned and operated stock feed manufacturer based in Charters Towers, North Queensland. We manufacture custom-mixed lick blocks, loose licks, weaner feeds, and performance paddock mixes for cattle, horses, poultry and small livestock across Queensland and the Northern Territory. References: MLA Phosphorus Hub (mla.com.au/phosphorus); FutureBeef Phosphorus Supplementation of Cattle in Northern Australia (futurebeef.com.au); Queensland Government FORAGE Indicative Soil Phosphorus Report (longpaddock.qld.gov.au).