Salt is crucial for the overall health of livestock. Probably water is the only more important element. Some farmers even go to the lengths of buying salt supplements, also known as licks. But why? And is it really common salt?
The simple answer is salt, which contains mainly sodium and chloride elements enhances the mineral balance in hoofed animals. Let’s look at five reasons in more detail:
1. Nutrition
Probably the most intuitive reason why salt is important for cows, horses, goats, sheep, and other livestock.
Apart from directly supplying the essential minerals and trace elements, salt enhances the fluid balance of these animals. The two elements which make up salt; sodium is crucial for the functioning of the central nervous system whereas chloride regulates the balance between acids and bases in the stomach.
Additionally, lack of salt can also cause restlessness in your livestock and disorientation which in turn affects animal socialization and general health. Salt supplements solve this.
2. Fertility
Salt deficiencies can affect libido and the general ability of animals to conceive. When the cows conceive, they may lose their young ones through miscarriage if they lack the required levels of salt in their bodies.
If you’re facing this problem, supplying livestock with salt blocks and licks will certainly help.
3. Appetite
If you notice your cows or other livestock eating irregularly or chewing anything in their close proximity, from wood, iron, or plastic; that could be a sign of salt deficiencies.
In improving appetites, salt also adds flavor to the grass, stalks, or anything you’re supplying your herbivores which obviously makes it edible and encourages the livestock to eat more.
4. Growth
Stunted growth in goats, sheep, and cows can be a function of a plethora of reasons and salt could be one of them.
Rough coats, improper digestion, muscle pain, and deteriorating physical conditions can all be a result of a lack of enough salt in your livestock’s diet. Even goiters, evidence of a lack of iodized salt in humans can also be observed in the most severe of cases.
5. Body Secretions
Homeostasis, a process where living organisms self-regulate internal stability through body secretions that include urine, salt, sweat, and saliva is enhanced by salt.
Without enough salt, disorientation and restlessness may occur in livestock which in turn negatively impacts their general health and well-being.
Salt in the wild
Not only are salt blocks and general supplements important for domesticated livestock. Guardians of national parks may need to supply wildlife with salts from time to time. Because seasons change, and the food available to our animals changes with them, we can’t always be sure if animals are getting enough salt.
When you notice any of the above, for your livestock at the farm or at the game reserve where you work, adding salt to the animals’ diet will probably be a good idea.
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