Proper mineral nutrition controls animal wastes

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.

Salt Institute

Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter

Fall 1997 (Vol. 29, No. 2)

Livestock and poultry producers need to consider not only the health and productivity of their animals, but potential environmental problems in disposing of animal wastes. Total quantities and concentrations in some situations can be challenging. But mineral supplementation and waste management strategies that support optimum animal performance while being environmentally friendly are not only possible, their achievement can be synergistic. Mineral deficient animals produce more waste because their digestive systems operate less efficiently. Misunderstandings on this issue occur when animal nutritionists and agronomists use the same term with different meanings. A nutritionist talking about the salt level in a diet is referring to the amount of sodium chloride added. An agronomist discussing the "salt content" of animal waste is referring to total salts, the sum of the soluble calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, chloride,

sulfate, nitrate and borate being discharged into the environment.