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Free Choice Minerals for Lambs Fed Calcium- or Sulfur-Deficient Rations

University of Minnesota, St. Paul^{1 ,2,}

Abstract

Mineral-adequate (control), calcium-deficient and sulfur-deficient diets were fed to lambs to determine if they would consume appropriate minerals in adequate amounts when several free choice minerals were offered. Half of the lambs fed each diet received 10 minerals in individual containers. The minerals were CaCO₃, K₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, ZnCO₃, 4MgCO₃-Mg(OH)₂-4H₂0, CuCO₃ MnCO₃, NaH₂P0₄, Na₂ SO₄ and NaCl. Daily gains, feed intakes and feed efficiencies were not improved by feeding free choice minerals. Plasma mineral levels, bone measurements and mineral contents and wool growth indicated mineral deficiencies, and in no instance did the feeding of free choice minerals improve lamb performance significantly over lambs not offered free choice minerals.

Mineral consumption data indicated that calcium-deficient lambs selected CaCO₃, though not in significantly greater quantities than lambs fed the control or sulfur-deficient diets. However, this calcium consumption did not improve growth parameters or physiological measurements. Sulfur-deficient lambs showed little ability to choose sulfur as Na₂SO₄. Throughout the trial, control lambs consumed more mineral (562.6 g) than calcium-deficient or sulfur-deficient lambs (419.6 and 465.8 g, respectively). The minerals that were consumed were primarily those containing sodium, especially NaCl.

Mineral consumption and growth data showed that lambs which were deficient in calcium or sulfur did not consume adequate amounts of free choice minerals to meet their requirements. The lambs apparently consumed acceptable minerals, rather than needed minerals. Because the lambs did not consume sufficient amounts of needed minerals to meet their requirements, and because they tended to over consume acceptable minerals, it is economically and nutritonally advisable to feed a complete ration or when it is not possible to feed a complete ration to offer on a free choice basis a palatable, complete mineral mixture.

¹ Department of Animal Science.

² Paper No. 9806 of the Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

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