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Effects of Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation and Fertilization on Quality and Mineral Utilization of Timothy Hays by Sheep^1,2,

West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506

Abstract

Effects of increasing the level of dietary Mg by kieserite (MgSO₄·H₂O) fertilization and direct addition of Epsom salts (MgSO₄·7H₂O) to the drinking water were determined using sheep fed timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hays grown on low Mg soils in Northern West Virginia. Replicated stands containing timothy as the predominant species, with and without kieserite fertilization at the rate of 2.2 t/ha (390 kg Mg/ha), were harvested at the flowering stage. Preharvest sampling of timothy plants at several growth stages indicated that fertilization increased (P<.05) mean concentrations of Mg (.08 vs .15%), decreased Ca (.40 vs .32%) and increased S (.14 vs .17%). Unfertilized and fertilized hays were fed ad libitum with and without Epsom salts (.49 g Mg/d) to yearling wether sheep (six/treatment) in two 21-d trials. Addition of magnesium sulfate to the water increased (P<.05) intake of unfertilized and fertilized hays by 13 and 15%, respectively. Dry matter digestibility of fertilized hays was lower (P<.05) than that of unfertilized hays, with no effect due to Mg supplementation. No effects of treatment on urinary output or dry matter content of the feces were observed, and addition of Epsom salts did not affect water consumption. Both kieserite fertilization and dietary Mg supplements increased (P<.05) Mg and S availability (apparent absorption and retention) by sheep. Fertilization and dietary supplementation also resulted in higher (P<.05) serum Mg concentrations in the sheep. Results support other evidence for a significant effect of Mg in improving the nutritional quality of forages fed as maintenance diets to ruminants.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the West Virginia Agr. and Forestry Exp. Sta. as Scientific Paper No. 1820.

² The authors are grateful to Dr. W. V. Thayne for statistical advice. They wish to thank Potash Import and Chemical Corp., New York, for donation of kieserite fertilizer used in this study.

³ Division of Animal and Vet. Sci.

⁴ Division of Plant Sci.