Sodium requirements of grazing livestock

N.R. Towers, P.W. Young and D.C. Smeaton

Ruakura Animal Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1984, 44: 155-158

Responses to sodium supplements have been recorded in trials with weaner Angus calves and mature ewes grazing pastures containing Na concentrations exceeding the minimum dietary levels calculated from recent Agricultural Research Council (1980) recommendations. Increased live-weight gains were noted following supplementation of calves grazing pastures with a Na content of 1 g/kg DM, and in ewes on pasture with 0.7 g/kg DM. These results suggest that either the estimates of daily Na requirements are too low or that for Na availability is too high.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Growth responses; Na supplementation; calves; sheep

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