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Physiological Effects of Saline Drinking Water on High Producing Dairy Cows^1,2,3,

Animal Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson 85721

ABSTRACT

Twelve Holstein cows averaging 37.3 kg of milk daily were placed randomly in two groups and given either tap water (196 ppm dissolved salts) or saline water (tap water plus 2500 ppm sodium chloride) in a 28-day changeover experimental design. Cows were group-fed free choice a ration of 60% alfalfa hay and 40% concentrate containing 1% salt and 2% dicalcium phosphate. Salt and dicalcium phosphate also were provided free choice.

Mean daily intake of saline water was 9.3 liters/head per day greater than for cows on tap water. A depression in milk yield of 1.9 kg/head per day and a decline in persistency of milk production were associated with consumption of saline water. Weekly milk production was correlated with saline (.90) but less (.39) with tap water consumption. Minerals in milk, blood electrolytes, feed intake, and digestibility were similar between treatments. Urine and fecal sodium and urine chloride were higher in the saline group.

¹ Journal paper 2778 of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station.

² This research is part of Regional Research Project W-135, Limiting Stress of Food Producing Animals to Increase Efficiency.

³ From M.S. thesis of E. H. Jaster.