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The influence of sodium supplementation on the voluntary intake and digestibility of low-sodium Setaria sphacelata cv. Nandi by cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. A. Little
D. A. Little
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
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Summary

This study examines the effect of sodium (Na) supplementation on the intake and digestibility of Na-deficient feed by cattle, and the potential applicability of faecal analysis to the diagnosis of Na deficiency in the field. Mature cattle fitted with oesophageal fistulae were fed chaffed Setaria sphacelata cv. Nandi hay ad libitum in metabolism cages, with and without a Na supplement (10 g Na daily as NaHCO3). In the first of two experiments the hay contained 0·44 g Na/kg D.M., and in the second, 1·05 g/kg. Prior to an unsupplemented treatment the animals were rapidly depleted of Na by removal of saliva via the fistula; Na status was assessed on the basis of the ratio Na/K in saliva.

When the feed contained 0·44 g Na/kg, Na supplementation increased voluntary intake by 28% (P < 0·01) and digestibility by 12% (P < 0·05). No such responses were obtained in Expt 2, in which the feed contained 1·05 g Na/kg.

Examination of available data suggests that a diagnosis of Na deficiency in cattle is indicated if the faecal Na concentration is below 1 g/kg D.M., and the ratio Na/K in faeces is less than 0·1. Further data are required to confirm these criteria, which should prove useful in the field when samples of saliva, the diagnostic criterion of choice, are not available.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 108 , Issue 1 , February 1987 , pp. 231 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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