Effect of Ammonium Chloride on Nitrogen and Mineral Balance in Lactating and Nonlactating Goats

Abstract

Four goats were in three single-reversal experiments to study effects of feeding ammonium chloride on various nutritional and physiological parameters. In Experiment I, feeding .56 g of ammonium chloride per day per kilogram body weight to lactating goats fed a ration having a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 3:l resulted in a reduced calcium retention and no change in phosphorus retention. In Experiments II and III, ingestion of .33 g of ammonium chloride per day per kilogram body weight by nonlactating goats fed a diet with calcium-to-phosphorus ratios of 3.4:l and 6.4:1 resulted in no change in calcium or phosphorus retention. Results which consistently accompanied treatment with ammonium chloride during each experiment were: (1) a decrease in dry matter intake, (2) a decrease in urine pH, (3) an increase in total grams of urine excreted per day, and (4) an increase in total urinary acretion of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, chloride, strontium, and zinc. © 1974, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.