Sodium supplementation of sheep and cattle fed lucerne

Abstract

The effect of sodium supplementation on animals either grazing or group-fed lucerne, grown on pumice soils in the Rotorua-Taupo region, was examined in three trials with sheep, two with beef cattle, and one with lactating dairy cattle. The average sodium content of the lucerne fed was 0.03% on a dry matter basis. In the sheep experiments average production increases to sodium supplementation were: live-weight gain 65%; carcass-weight gain 98%; wool growth 29%. Supplementation as either a drench, herbage spray, or lick was equally efficacious. Beef cattle, group-fed green lucerne at ad lib. levels, gained live weight and carcass weight 16–48% and 22–30% faster respectively when supplemented with sodium chloride. In a short-term trial, lactating cows drenched with sodium chloride produced significantly more milk and butterfat than undrenched controls.