Salt useful to control cattle's intake levels
US - Salt, which is made up of sodium and chlorine, plays an important nutritional role in the diet of cattle, said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
9 April 2007
1 minute read
"Cattle like salt just like some people like salt. But in a herd of cattle, you'll likely find extremes on intake. Some eat a lot while others may seldom touch it," said Cole.
Most forage contains ample amounts of chlorine, but most species of grasses tend to be short on sodium. Legumes usually contain sufficient sodium to meet the needs of cattle.
"As a rule, mature beef cattle need one ounce or less of salt a day. Research has shown the ounce can be obtained either from a block or as loose salt," said Cole.
Salt was one of the original items to add convenience to cattle feeding. When added to protein or concentrate feeds at varying amounts, the intake levels can be controlled.
"You could put out several days worth of supplement and the animals would be expected to have a uniform, daily intake of the feed. Other feed ingredients are now being used that help control intake, but salt still works," said Cole.
Cattle normally voluntarily consume about 0.1 pound of salt per 100 pounds of body weight. A 1,200-pound cow would eat about 1.2 pounds of salt each day when mixed with a palatable concentrate.
Source: News-Leader.com
