The elements of common salt, sodium and chlorine, are essential for animal life. They are part of several functions in maintaining osmotic pressure in body cells which is vital to the transfer of nutrients and waste products across the cell membrane. Salt is a major component of fluid blood, which contains about 0.17% of both sodium and chlorine. Experiments have shown conclusively that extended deprivation of salt (up to one year) will cause a marked breakdown in animal production. *
Livestock have shown that they are fairly capable of regulating their own intake of salt if given a reliable source of it. Under range conditions about 20 pounds per head per year has been recommended, with most available during the active growing season to assist the animal with the faster metabolism of succulent feeds. **
An effective solution to allow stock to ‘self serve’ as and when they need it is Rock Salt. This resources is found in Pakistan (also known as Himalayan Rock Salt) it contains not just the essential sodium but up to 84 other minerals.
This form of salt weathers well and can be left out (even in the rain) for your livestock to lick as they choose.
Available in 25kg bags or by the kilo, pop in store to check out this amazing naturally occuring salt alternative.
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*, ** - https://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/1%20rangelandmanagement/7%20usingsaltforlivestock94.pdf