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The effect of form on equine salt intake
1Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, 350 W Pitkin Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
Introduction:
Sodium and chloride are required nutrients and are typically met using sodium chloride (salt) via compressed blocks. The objective of this study was to compare salt intake using block or loose salt.
Materials And Methods:
Sixteen mature horses were blocked by housing style and assigned to block salt or loose salt (form) for four 7-day periods. Salt intake was measured by weight at the end of each period.
Results:
Salt intake was not affected by form (P = 0.070) or period (P = 0.902). There was an effect of horse (P < 0.001). Horses consumed between 2 and 135 g of salt daily, however; over half of the horses in the study did not consume enough salt to meet requirements.
Conclusion:
Both salt and water intake are highly variable by horse. Horses that do not voluntarily consume enough salt to meet requirements should be supplemented with their daily feed ration.
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