MACÊDO, R. M. Q. T.; MACÊDO, Rafael Marcelo Quezado Tavares.
Resumo:
Estimation of daily sodium chloride consumption by sheep raised in an extensive system in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. The offer of mineral substances in the alimentation is so important to maintain the health and the productive capacity of domestic animals. Deficiency or excess of a mineral unleashes biochemistry lesions, witch reflects in physiologic alterations, and these can be presented by many forms, depending of the element, intensity and duration of the deficiency. The deficiency of Sodium is encountered in all parts of the world. The first signs are alterations in the appetite and search for the mineral. In ovine, the knowledge about lacks of mineral is limited, mainly about the correct kinds for supplementation.
There is a little information about the consumption of salt by ovine created in the semiarid region. This variation suggests the needs to determinate the diary consumption of salt in no confined ovine in the caatinga, and then turn possible to adequate the quantity of salt is necessary in the mixes. This work aimed to estimate the diary consumption of common salt by ovine created in extensive system and based on this the animals can receive the adequate supplementation of Sodium Clorets, besides to divulge information for elaboration of mineral mixes adequate to semiarid, considering the functions related to the flavor and as factor of limitation in the ingestion, witch are realized by Sodium Clorets.
The experiment was done in the Nuclei for Research and Developing of the Semiarid Tropic, located in the Health and Rural Technology Center of The Campina Grande Federal University. Were used 23 animals with no defined breed, males and females, in different ages. The median diary consumption of common salt by ovine was 5,59 g/day. The consumption of salt in the studied propriety demonstrates a Sodium deficiency in semiarid region. It was verified a major ingestion of common salt in begin of the
experiment, followed by a period of low ingestion and then another elevation on the consumption level, till a stabilization. The value of 5,59g/day for animal can be used as base to calculate the offer of other minerals witch are considered deficient or in cases on there are suspects of lack in the region.