| Abstrakt: |
Sodium chloride levels of 0.66, 4.8, 9.4, and 12.8 percent of the ration, or daily intakes of 0.03, 0.16, 0.33, and 0.46 lb., were fed to growing and fattening sheep. These levels of salt had no detectable influence on nitrogen digestibility, nitrogen retention, or total digestible nutrient content of the basal ration. The high salt intakes were not detrimental to average daily gains or efficiency of feed utilization. Carcass grade was maintained until the highest intake was reached. The weights of the kidney increased when the salt intake was 9.4 and 12.8 percent of the ration or a daily intake of 0.33 or 0.46 lb. of salt. The adrenal weights, blood albumin and hematocrits were equivalent for all groups. These high salt intakes had no influence on the number of stomach worms.A sodium chloride intake of 9.33 percent or a daily intake of 1.7 lb. by fattening steers had no detrimental influence on average daily gains or efficiency of feed utilization. Dressing percentage for the control and the high salt group was the same. There was some decrease in carcass grade with the high salt ration. |
