By Dr. James Coomer, Ph.D., P.A.S.
Sodium, chloride and potassium are the major electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are chemical elements or compounds that become ions (carry and electrical charge) when they are in a solution. For a solution to maintain a neutral charge there must be a balance of positive and negative charged ions. Sodium and potassium are positive charged ions and chloride is a negative charged ion. Therefore it is important to maintain a balance of these three minerals in the animal and thus in their diets. These three ions along with sulfate (a negative charged ion) can be used to manipulate the acid base balance of a cow’s blood to help prevent fresh cow problems associated with milk fever.
Sodium has a major role on osmotic (water) balance in the animal and along with chlorine and potassium in proper concentrations and balance, is indispensable for many physiologic functions. Proper balance of sodium and potassium are critical for heart function and nerve impulse conduction and transmission. It is also involved in the sodium-potassium ATPase (Na-K pump). The Na-K pump is essential for transport of glucose, amino acids and phosphates into cells and hydrogen, calcium, bicarbonate, potassium and chloride ions out of cells. Sodium status of the animal is maintained by the kidney and excess sodium is excreted in the urine.
Acute sodium deficiency is not very common in cattle that are provided some supplemental sodium, because the body is very good at conserving sodium. However, severe sodium deficiency will result in animals craving salt, licking and/or chewing various objects or eating dirt. These signs may take weeks to develop once a dietary deficiency is created. The primary sources of sodium in animal diets are sodium chloride (salt) and sodium bicarbonate.
Chloride is the major anion in the body and is involved in regulation of osmotic pressure. It is essential for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide as well. Chlorine is a major part of gastric secretions, in the form of HCL (hydrochloric acid). Pancreatic amylase, which starts the digestion of starch, requires HCL for activation. Thus chlorine plays a major role in nutrient digestion. Chlorine excretion is closely tied to excretion of excess sodium, as one chlorine molecule is required to be excreted for every molecule of sodium that is excreted in the urine. Clinical deficiency of chlorine is rarely observed in dairy cattle, however sub-clinical deficiencies may result in poor performance or deficiency of other nutrients, due to poor transportation across membranes. The primary sources of chloride in dairy diets are sodium chloride and potassium chloride, however forages may also be a significant source of chloride and calcium or magnesium chloride may be used as a chloride source to alter DCAD balance of a dry cow diet.
Potassium is the mineral required in the highest amount by dairy cattle. It is the third most abundant mineral element in the body and is the most abundant mineral in milk. There is no significant storage of potassium in the animals body, thus it must be supplied in the diet. Potassium is involved in acid-base regulation, nerve impulse transmission, water balance, osmotic pressure, muscle contraction and oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. It is also required for activation of several enzymes involved in uptake and metabolism of amino acids, protein and carbohydrates. Potassium is the major intracellular electrolyte and is involved with sodium in the Na-K pump, which is responsible for transport of many things into and out of cells. Severe deficiency of potassium is unlikely in dairy cattle, however marginal deficiency can occur if diets are low in potassium. Signs of marginal deficiency are reduced feed intake with corresponding lower milk yield. Higher levels of potassium are recommended during times of heat stress, as cows do lose some potassium through sweating.
The major sources of potassium in dairy cattle diets are forages with supplementation with potassium chloride or potassium carbonate.
Agri-King has researched and developed an electrolyte balancing program that has been incorporated into our ration balancing program and is designed to keep sodium, potassium and chloride in the proper ratio to keep the dairy cow functioning at optimum efficiency. We have also developed our own program for using these electrolytes and other nutrients to manipulate a gestating dairy cow’s acid-base balance in order to prevent milk fever and other fresh cow issues related to low blood calcium at calving.
Over the years Agri-King has become skilled in enzyme technology and has several products representing this expertise:
- Ru-Mend
- Zy-Mend
- Zym-O-Factors
- Maximiser
- REAP
Re-Mend and Zy-Mend are products featuring Agri-King’s new COGU II technology. Whereas enzymes help to improve the overall digestion of feed COGU II is involved with absorption of nutrients. Therefore, this new technology is tightly linked to the electrolyte balance described above.
The original concept behind COGU II is to help counteract the effects of dietary iron and its negative effect on nutrient absorption. Dietary iron can interfere with the absorption of the following nutrients (to name a few):
- Cobalt
- Phosphorus
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Copper
- Chromium
- Iodine
COGU II is designed to reduce the interfering effect of iron and “free up” these nutrients so they can become available for absorption across the mucosal cell membranes.
We are learning COGU II improves absorption in more ways than simply removing the interfering effects of iron, but these mechanisms still need to be understood. Regardless of the mechanism by which COGU II assists with nutrient absorption the sodium, potassium and chloride must be balanced in the diet in order for the efficient absorption to occur.
Nature has dictated that sodium, potassium, and chloride (electrolyte balance) need to be in the right ratio for the absorption of some nutrients across cell membranes. Agri-King research has established an appropriate electrolyte balance for of dairy rations. Agri-King research also has uncovered technology (COGU II) that aids in improving the availability of nutrients for absorption. Both of these must be worked in unison for maximum results. AK
