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Sodium Bentonite and Sodium Bicarbonate in High-Concentrate Diets for Lambs and Steers^1,2,

South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007

Abstract

Sodium bentonite, sodium bicarbonate and a combination of these, initially at levels of 2% each, were incorporated into diets of lambs and steers rapidly converted from a roughage diet to a high-concentrate diet. Acidosis-related lamb death losses were reduced from 19% in controls to 0 to 3% in all treatment groups. No deaths occurred in steers where conditions of adaptation were intentionally made less severe. Only the combination of sodium bentonite and sodium bicarbonate improved lamb and steer performance during the initial 21-day period increasing feed intake and weight gains, respectively, 19% and 37% for lambs, and 16% and 41% for steers. Following the initial 21-day period, the treatment materials were reduced to 1% in some instances and withdrawn in others. Under these conditions, improvements in performance observed initially were not sustained during the remainder of the finishing period. The incidence of abscessed livers in steers tended to be lower and urinary calculi in lambs and steers tended to be higher in those fed sodium bicarbonate.

¹ Published with approval of the Director of South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Publication No. 1575 of the Journal Series.

² Sodium bentonite used in this study was "Volclay, feed crumbles grade" and was provided compliments of American Colloid Co., Skokie, IL; sodium bicarbonate was generously provided by Church and Dwight Co. Inc., New York.

³ Present address: Assistant Animal Scientist, Carrington Irrigation Branch Station, North Dakota State University, Carrington. ND 58421.

⁴ Chemistry Department.

⁵ Animal Science Department.