| Abstrakt: |
Sixteen wether lambs were divided into eight pairs. One of each pair received a diet containing 3.2% soluble oxalate from the halogeton plant of the Chenopodiaceae family, while the other served as a control. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride were higher in the diet containing oxalate while there was no difference in phosphorus content between diets. Rumen pH measurements were taken twice weekly and blood samples weekly. Three electrolyte balance trials were run during the 12-wk. experimental period.Rumen pH was consistently higher in the lambs on the halogeton diet throughout the entire feeding period (P<.01). Urine pH followed the same pattern.The sheep were stressed at a constant level the entire period as reflected by rumen pH but compensation, other than rumen pH, was adequate and there were no balance, blood or carcass changes (as measured by blood electrolyte, electrolyte balance, or electrolyte composition of carcass or bones) of any consequence. However, the sheep given the halogeton diet did develop a slight hypocalcemia when compared to the control although it was within the normal limits for sheep.These results stand in marked contrast to those obtained by others when feeding ruminants similar levels of oxalate in acidic form. |
