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Report and comments by: James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutritionist Feed Grade Potassium Carbonate Beef and dairy nutritionists use buffers in many of the high grain rations. A new less reactive potassium carbonate has been introduced by ARM & HAMMER Animal Nutrition Group of the Church and Dwight Company. This product may have a place in high grain feedlot rations where buffering and acid naturalizing agents are now used. According to the company's news release, "This additive increases dietary cation/anion difference by providing supplemental potassium without the usual chlorides and sulfates, thus resulting in increased dry matter intake and production in lactating cows." It is interesting to speculate if this may also be true for feedlot cattle.. Reactive and Less-Reactive Buffers The most common of the reactive buffers is sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide. The sources of less-reactive buffers are ground limestone (calcium carbonate) and magnesium containing limestone (calcium/magnesium carbonate). The magnesium limestones are usually called dolomites. The limestone products may be more or less reactive depending on the deposit and the particles size. A combination of the two types may be a consideration for livestock nutritionists. Ground Limestone Added For Mineral Balance Ground limestone has been added to cattle rations for generations to balance the so called requirement of calcium and phosphorus. It is often added at one percent of the dry matter. Again, it is interesting to speculate if the effect of the added limestone is a "better balance" or because it gives slow buffering and neutralizing of the acids caused by the high grain rations. Replacing Chlorides and Sulfates If the new slow release potassium carbonate is added to feedlot rations it may replace part of the potassium supplied from either potassium chloride or potassium/magnesium sulfate. Potassium chloride is particularly inexpensive and readily available from feed manufacturers. Potassium chloride added to rations not only helps fortify the ration for the potassium but along with common salt (sodium chlorides) provides chlorides. The chlorides in my opinion are important for the control of phosphatic type kidney stone (urinary calculi) in high grain rations, particularly steers. Potassium in Rations Grains are very low in potassium and alfalfa hay is particularly high in potassium (up to two percent dry basis). Corn silage is part way in between, because it is both a grain and roughage source. Therefore, the need to use a potassium source are both a nutrient reason, and possibly a buffering reason, if the source of potassium is potassium carbonate. Your nutritionist can help evaluate the nutritional needs for the minerals, their interaction and the buffering and neutralizing nature of the different ingredients. Comments or questions on this or any of Dr. Jim Sprague's articles can be directed to him at 625 Grandview, Newton, Kansas, 67114 or call (316) 283-8692. © |
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