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Nutrient Utilization in Lambs Fed Diets High in Sodium or Potassium¹

University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0215

Abstract

Twenty-four wether lambs averaging 47 kg were used to study the effects of dietary K and Na additions on metabolism of lambs. Lambs were randomly allotted to four treatments and fed 900 g/d of the following: control diet consisting of 50% ground tall fescue hay and 50% concentrate; K diet calculated to contain 4% K with K added as KCl; Na diet calculated to contain 4% Na with Na added as NaCl, and K-Na diet containing 2% K and 2% Na with K and Na added from the same sources as in the K and Na diets. Water intake and urine excretion were highest for lambs fed the Na diet. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibilities were similar among treatments. The K-Na diet resulted in decreased (P<.05) acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility compared with lambs fed the Na diet. Nitrogen (N) retention was highest (P<.05) in lambs fed the K diet and lowest in those fed the Na diet. Rumen NH₃-N was lower (P<.05) in lambs fed the Na diet compared with controls. Rumen K at 2 and 6 h postfeeding was highest (P<.05) and rumen Na at 6 h lowest (P<.05) for lambs fed the K diet. Plasma K values at both sampling times were highest (P<.05) in lambs fed the K diet. At 6 h postfeeding, plasma Mg was higher in control lambs compared with those fed the K-Na diet. A high intake of Na and concomitant increase in water intake by lambs fed the Na diet had the greatest detrimental effect on retention of the minerals measured, except Mg. A marked decrease in apparent Mg absorption was noted when lambs were fed both diets containing added K. These data show that nutrient utilization is altered differentially by feeding high levels of K and Na at ad libitum water intakes.

¹ This paper (No. 82-5-239) is published with the approval of the Director of the Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim, Sci.