Why are cattle so attracted to salt?

Because the plants that they eat do not contain sufficient amounts of sodium and chloride. Also, a lot of salt is lost as perspiration during warm weather or if they are being worked. Salt needs also increase during lactation and during periods of rapid growth. As such, cattle need to have access to salt at all times. The best type of salt you can supplement your animals with is either a trace-mineral block, a loose-mineral mix, or a cobalt-iodine-salt block. Loose minerals are much more recommended among many cattlemen than salt that comes in block form.