Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-15
Salt Requirement of Cows.

Salt requirement OF lows.
Cows require salt frequently in order
TO dc well. All animals that consume
large quantities of vegetable food re-
lquire salt. Old settlers of the Middle
West can still point out the pockets
where the buffalo of the plains licked the
earth in order to get the salt in the soil.
When domesticated cattle are connned
Ifor several weeks without access to salt
they will make similar 'licks' IN the SOIL.
When properly fed, salt has pnysio-
logical effect on the body, and serves as
spice or condiment which stimulates
the appetite and increases the palataoiii-
ty of many foods. II also stimulates the
secretion of the digestive fluids, assists
| in the circulation of the fluids of the
body, and prevents digestive disturb
anceS. Formerly it was thought that
salt also increased the digestibility Of
food, but experiments show that the di-
gestibility of the ration is neither in
| creased nor diminished by salt.
The amount of salt required in the ra-
ton differs in different localities. Soils
containing large quantities of salt will
| produce feeding plants containing more
salt than is produced on soils containing
small quantities of salt. Also streams
and wells vary greatly in salt content.
For this reason it is best TO keep salt be-
fore the animals continually so the prop
| or amount can be consumed.
Animals giving milk require more salt
than other classes of live stock. Practi-
cal observations and scientific investiga-
tions agree that salt is an essential part
of the ration of the dairy COW.
Ii has been estimated from expert
ments that three-fourths of an ounce a
day for every one thousand pounds OF
live weight is the proper amount for
most classes of live stock. Hogs require
less, aud milk cows more than this
amount. For each twenty pounds OF
milk produced, the salt in the ration
should be increased by six-tenthS ounce.
The salt may be supplied by mixing
the proper amount regularly in the feed,
or by placing it where the animal can
help itself as the appetite demands.
When the animal is allowed free access
TO salt, compressed dairy salt gives the
best satisfaction. When mixed with
the ration, a good grade of crystal dairy
salt should be used. Many farmers use
rock salt for their live stock, but there
are several objections to using this kind
eff salt. Ii requires too much licking for
the animal to get enough of the salt.
The sharp edges produced in the rock by
licking are apt to severely cut the
tongue which makes the process OF eat
ing painful, and results in keeping the
animal in poor condition.
There is no danger of cows consuming
too much salt il the salt is kept before
them continually. However, when sup
Piled in large amounts at intervals OF
from one to two weeks, as is the practice
with many farmers, there is danger OF
the animal eating an excessive amount
of salt. Excessive consumption Of salt,
as is usually the result when the animal
is fed freely of salt after having been
kept from il for some time, greatly in
creases the amount of water secreted in
the urine. On account of the conse-
quent abnormal thirst, animals will then
drink large quantities of water which is
apt to injure the digestion and lead to
other disturbances. When in this con-
dition, if sufficient water is not supplied,
the water content of the body will be
esseued by the increased loss through
the kidneys, leading TO an increased
breaking down of protein. A serious
loss of vitality will result from this ex-
cessive loss of protein.
III the cows are allowed free access to
salt, or supplied with it every three or
four days, they will consume the right
amount for the needs of the body. The
objection to giving salt at intervals OF
several days is that one is apt to forget
the salt altogether for week or more,
and when fed freely on it again the cows
are apt to consume too much of 1t.
In an experiment on a number OF cows
at the Wisconsin Station it was found
that cows would exhibit an abnormal
appetite for salt when kept from it from
two to three weeks. A diminishing ef-
feet on the milk yield and detrimental
effect on the health of the animals were
not apparent for much longer period.
This period of immunity varied with in
dividual cows at from one month TO one
year. The breakdown in health with
most of the COWS was sudden and COM
plete. This condition was indicated by
a marked loss of appetite, hsggsrd ap-
pearance, lusterless eye, rough coat, and
rapid decrease in live weight and flow OF
milk. When the salt was again sup
piled the cows, if the test was not con-
tinued for too long time, they quickly
regained their normal condition.
The Wisconsin experiment also proved
that it is the sodium in the salt that the
animal Graves aud not the chlorin.