Sodium versus Chloride for the Therapy of Salt-Deficient Dairy Cows

Abstract

A comparison of Na and Cl ions for the treatment of salt-deficient cows showed the Na ions but not the Cl ions to be of therapeutic value. When NaCl was fed to salt-deficient cows, increases in milk production, body weight and appetite occurred. When sodium bicarbonate was fed, similar increases occurred. The feeding of MgCl2 failed to interrupt a progressive decline in milk production, body weight and roughage consumption. When MgCl2 and sodium bicarbonate was fed in combination, the response was similar to those cows fed NaCl. Thus under the conditions of this experiment a NaCl deficiency was essentially a Na deficiency.