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The effect of sodium fertilizer application to pasture on feed and water intakes and rumen digestion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

P.C. Chiy
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, North Wales, Gwynedd
C.J.C Phillips
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, North Wales, Gwynedd
H.M. Omed
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, North Wales, Gwynedd
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Extract

Previous studies (e.g Rogers et al., 1985; Estell and Gaylean, 1985) have shown that addition of sodium (Na) as NaHCO3 or NaCl to conserved feeds increases rumen pH, fluid dilution rate, digestibility of dietary nutrients and rumen cellulolysis. Little research has involved the effect of Na supplementation on cattle fed fresh herbage.

The objective of the present experiment was to examine the effects of 0 (Nil), 32 (Low), 66 (Medium) and 96 (High) Kg Na ha-1 yr-1 applied as fertilizer to zero-grazed perennial ryegrass pasture, on rumen digestion and feed and water intakes.

Type
Rumen Metabolism
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1992

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References

Estell, R.E. and Gaylean, M.L. (1985). Relationship of rumen fluid dilution rate to rumen fermentation and dietary characteristics of beef steers. J. Aium. Sci., 60, 1061–1071.Google Scholar
Rogers, J.A., Muller, L.D., Davis, C.L., Chalupa, W., Kronfield, D.S., Krocher, L.F., and Cummings, K.R. (1985). Responses of dairy cows to sodium bicarbonate and limestone in early lactation. J. Dairy Sci., 68, 648–660.Google Scholar