Salt poisoning could be fatal

To improve performance, livestock require the right nutritional supplements in sufficient amounts at the right time and stage of production.

This is a costly and risky exercise if not well managed.

It is therefore advisable to seek advice when buying lick supplements and mixing, Erastus Ngaruka, Agribank’s technical advisor for livestock and rangeland, explains.

Livestock, such as cattle, sheep and goats, have varying nutritional needs influenced by age, production stage and physical activity, among other factors.

Important nutrients or feed components for livestock’s physiological functioning and survival include protein, energy, minerals, vitamins, and water.

A deficiency or an oversupply of these components will affect health and performance.

Care needed

“The most feared and lethal components, when oversupplied in an animal’s diet, are salt and urea. Overconsumption leads to poisoning, referred to as salt poisoning and urea poisoning.”

Ngaruka says salt is an important component in animal nutrition, as it is a source of two minerals, sodium and chloride. However, they are needed in miniscule amounts.

In addition, salt is used to regulate feed or lick intake. For example, intake is higher with low salt content, and lower with higher salt content.

Salt poisoning can result from several factors such as dehydration; when an animal’s body is losing excessive water through sweating; water restriction over a period of time; overconsumption of salt through lick supplements; drinking of saline or salty water from boreholes and water pans in saline soils.

Signs and help

The observable symptoms of poisoning include salivation, extreme thirst, circling, blindness, seizures, and partial paralysis amongst others. Animals may go into a coma and die.

Treatment is not well defined, but the basic practice is to rehydrate affected animals by gradually supplying small amounts of fresh water.

“The animal should be kept under shade to prevent heat stress and further dehydration. Other remedies such as metabolic stimulants may also be given to enhance bodily functions.”

Salt poisoning can be prevented by ensuring that animals have unlimited access to freshwater and are protected from potential heat stress.

“Excessive salt provision should be avoided, and adequate and well-mixed lick supplements should be provided to avoid overconsumption, especially by animals with high salt craving,” Ngaruka advises.

Moreover, is advisable that farmers carry out water quality testing to ascertain the salinity levels, especially when drilling boreholes in unfamiliar locations or in risky areas.