What Is a Salt Lick? Animals, Types and Uses
Last updated October 23, 2026
What is a salt lick? It's a spot where animals lick salt and other minerals, either a natural deposit in the ground or a salt block that people set out. Deer, horses, cattle, goats and many wild animals use them. This guide covers the types, the animals, and how to set one up.
Key Takeaways
- What is a salt lick? Any natural or man-made source of salt and minerals that animals lick.
- Natural licks form where salty deposits reach the surface. Man-made licks are usually salt blocks.
- Horses, cattle, goats, sheep, deer, moose, and even elephants visit salt licks.
- A Himalayan salt lick from Natural Salt Co. weighs about 6 lbs and hangs on a rope.
- Rules on salt licks for wildlife differ by state, so check with your state wildlife agency first.
What Is a Salt Lick?
A salt lick is a place or object where animals lick salt and minerals they don't get enough of from their food. It can be a natural deposit of salty soil or rock, or a man-made salt block placed in a pasture, stall, or field.
Scientists often call it a mineral lick. According to the Wikipedia entry on mineral licks, these sites can supply sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. Natural licks matter most in places where plants are low in those minerals.
So when someone asks what a salt lick is on a farm, the answer is usually simpler: a block of salt, often on a rope or in a holder, that livestock lick whenever they want.
Which Animals Use a Salt Lick Block?
Knowing what a salt lick is is half the story. Plant-eating animals use a salt lick block the most, because grass, hay, and leaves are often low in sodium. On farms that means horses, cattle, goats and sheep. In the wild, deer, elk, moose and many other grazers seek out natural licks.
Wikipedia's mineral lick entry lists deer, moose, elephants, giraffes, zebras, porcupines, tapirs and even some fruit-eating bats as lick visitors. Some animals travel long distances to reach a good natural site.
- Horses and ponies: often given a block in the stall or paddock. Read more on salt licks for horses and livestock.
- Cattle: usually get larger blocks or loose minerals in the pasture.
- Goats and sheep: use smaller blocks set at head height.
- Deer and wildlife: visit natural licks and, where legal, man-made sites.
Every species has its own mineral needs. Ask your vet which salt or mineral source fits your animals before you add one.
What Types of Salt Licks Are There?
There are five common types of salt licks: natural ground licks, plain white salt blocks, trace mineral blocks, Himalayan rock salt licks, and loose mineral mixes. Each one suits a different setting, from a wild forest clearing to a horse stall. So the answer to what a salt lick is changes a little with each type.
- Natural licks. Salty soil, rock, or springs where minerals reach the surface.
- Plain white salt blocks. Pressed sodium chloride, often sold in large pasture sizes.
- Trace mineral blocks. Pressed salt with added minerals. The color often comes from those additions.
- Himalayan rock salt licks. A solid chunk of mined pink rock salt, usually drilled and hung on a rope.
- Loose minerals. A granular mix served in a feeder, common for cattle herds.
We sell the fourth type. When we pack salt lick orders in Cockeysville, each block is a single piece of pink rock salt from the Salt Range in Pakistan, with no additives, threaded on its own rope. Because it's solid mined rock, it tends to wear down slowly. Tip: Hard rock salt suits animals that lick gently, like horses.
How Much Do Himalayan Salt Licks Cost?
Himalayan salt licks at Natural Salt Co. cost $7.50 to $14.99 per block, depending on pack size. Each block weighs about 6 lbs and comes with a hanging rope. Larger packs cost less per block and per pound.
Prices checked October 23, 2026. Per-block and per-pound prices are our own math (pack price divided by blocks, then by 6 lbs).
| Pack | Pack price | Price per block | Price per lb | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $14.99 | $14.99 | $2.50 | 6 lbs |
| Pack of 2 | $21.00 | $10.50 | $1.75 | 12 lbs |
| Pack of 4 | $34.99 | $8.75 | $1.46 | 24 lbs |
| Pack of 8 | $60.00 | $7.50 | $1.25 | 48 lbs |
If you keep more than one animal or want spares, the animal salt lick block range shows every pack side by side. For a single stall, one rope-hung salt lick block is a simple way to start.
How Do You Set Up a Salt Lick?
To set up a salt lick, hang or place the block at the animal's head height, in shade, near fresh water, and out of heavy rain. Check it every few days, keep the rope secure, and replace the block once it's badly worn.
In a barn, tie the rope to a stall ring or post. In a field, hang it from a sheltered post or tree branch, so rain runs off instead of pooling. Two or three goats can share one block. A small herd may need a few, which is where the 4-block rope pack from Natural Salt Co. helps.
Racing and performance barns often have their own routines. You can see how they handle it in our piece on salt licks for racehorses.
Can You Put Out a Salt Lick for Deer?
You can put out a salt lick for deer in some places, but not everywhere. Some U.S. states treat salt and mineral sites as bait and limit them, especially during hunting season or where wildlife disease is a concern. Your state wildlife agency sets the rules.
Wikipedia notes that keeping artificial licks as bait is illegal in some states and legal in others. Call or check the website of your state wildlife agency before you set one up. If it's allowed, Natural Salt Co.'s deer mineral station guide walks through placement.
Common Mistakes With Salt Licks
- No fresh water nearby. Animals drink more after licking salt. Keep clean water close.
- Using a block made for another species. Some trace mineral blocks suit cattle but not sheep or goats. Read the label and ask your vet.
- Leaving it in standing rain. Water wears salt away fast and makes a mess.
- Hanging it too high or too low. Head height keeps the block clean and easy to reach.
- Skipping local rules for wildlife. Check with your state agency before setting a lick for deer.
FAQ
Why do animals need salt licks?
Many plant-eating animals get little sodium from grass, hay, and leaves, so they seek out salt to make up the difference. A salt lick lets them take what they want, when they want it. Ask your vet how much salt and which minerals your animals need.
How long does a Himalayan salt lick last?
It depends on the animal, the number of animals sharing it, and the weather. Solid rock salt usually wears down slower than pressed blocks. A 6 lb block in a dry stall used by one horse can last much longer than one hanging outdoors in rain for a herd.
Can horses and goats share one salt lick?
They can share a plain salt lick if both can reach it at head height, but watch for bullying at the block. Mixed herds may need two blocks in separate spots. Check with your vet before sharing any block that contains added minerals.
Is a Himalayan salt lick different from a white salt block?
Yes. A Himalayan salt lick is a solid piece of mined pink rock salt, while most white salt blocks are pressed from refined salt. The pink color comes from natural trace minerals in the rock. The Himalayan salt licks from Natural Salt Co. weigh about 6 lbs each.
So, What Is a Salt Lick in Practice?
What is a salt lick, in short? It's a natural or man-made salt source that animals lick for the minerals their food lacks. For farm animals, a rope-hung block at head height, near water and out of the rain, is the easiest setup. Check local rules first for wildlife.