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Energy Retention in Lambs as Influenced by Various Levels of Sodium and Potassium in the Rations^{1, 2,}

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces⁵

Abstract

The chemical similarity and closely related physiological roles of sodium and potassium have prompted several experiments to investigate their nutritional relationships primarily in rats and chickens (Grunert, Meyer and Phillips, 1950; Meyer et al., 1950; Burns, Cravens and Phillips, 1953). It was concluded that the ratio of sodium to potassium in the diets of these species was not critical if there were adequate amounts but no excess of each element. In vitro studies on sheep rumen micro-organisms revealed that potassium and not sodium was essential for the rumen micro-bial population (Hubbert, Cheng and Burroughs, 1958). However, sodium stimulated microbial activity at low potassium levels while depressing activity at higher levels of potassium.

High levels of sodium bicarbonate (Kromann and Meyer, 1966) and sodium chloride (Kromann and Ray, 1967) fed to lambs caused a greater depression in growth and energy retention than could be attributed to a depression in food intake.

¹ Journal Article No. 369, Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.

² This investigation was partially supported by a grant from International Minerals and Chemical Corporation.

³ Former Graduate Assistant, present address: Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis.

⁴ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman.

⁵ Department of Animal Science.