68 Feeds and Feeding. 



is neither increased nor diminished thereby. Rather than in- 

 creasing the waste of protein from the body, as earlier investiga- 

 tors believed, salt appears to slightly lessen protein decomposi- 

 tion. Kellner 1 states that besides the physiological action of salt, 

 it serves as a spice or condiment which stimulates the appetite 

 and increases the palatability of many foods. It also stimulates 

 the secretion of the digestive fluids, increases and hastens the cir- 

 culation of the fluids of the body, and prevents digestive disturb- 

 ances. 



Excessive consumption of salt must be guarded against, since 

 it greatly increases the amount of water excreted in the urine. 

 On account of the consequent abnormal thirst, animals will then 

 drink exceedingly large quantities of water, which will injure 

 digestion and lead to other disturbances. If sufficient water is not 

 supplied, the water content of the body will be lessened by the 

 increased loss thru the kidneys, leading to increased breaking down 

 of protein. (87) If animals are allowed free access to salt or sup- 

 plied with it at frequent and regular intervals, they will consume 

 only enough to meet the needs of the body. 



Of the numerous salt-feeding experiments, only those of Bab- 

 cock and Carlyle of the Wisconsin Station 2 are satisfactory and 

 conclusive. In these trials dairy cows, well nourished otherwise, 

 were given no common salt (sodium chlorid) for long periods 

 more than a year in some instances. The following conclusions 

 were reached: "In every case the cows exhibited an abnormal 

 appetite for salt after having been deprived of it for 2 or 3 weeks, 

 but in no case did the health of the animal, as shown by the gen- 

 eral appearance, the live weight, or the yield of milk, appear to 

 be affected until a much longer time had elapsed. This period of 

 immunity varied with individual cows from less than a month to 

 more than a year. There was finally reached a condition of low 

 vitality in which a sudden and complete breakdown occurred. 

 This stage was marked by loss of appetite, a generally haggard 

 appearance, lusterless eyes, a rough coat, and a very rapid decline 

 in both live weight and yield of milk." If salt was supplied at 

 this period recovery was rapid. In one case potassium chlorid 

 was given instead of common salt (sodium chlorid). Consider- 

 able of the potassium salt was eaten, tho cows ordinarily refuse 

 to touch it, and recovery followed as quickly as when common 



1 Ernahr. landw. Nutztiere, 1907, p. 173. 2 Ept. 1905. 



