Suplementação mineral e ruminantes na caatinga: estimativa do consumo de cloreto de sódio e resposta à suplementação com fósforo.

Abstract

In order to provide data for the elaboration of mineral mixtures suitable for the semi-arid region, the consumption of common salt by ruminants raised in an extensive system was estimated. 22 cattle, 138 goats and 23 sheep were used. The goats were separated into three groups: 34 goats; 30 lactating goats; 70 non-lactating goats, and four male goats. Cattle ingested 30.27+- 1.05g per day, which is similar to salt consumption in other regions of Brazil. In goats, an average consumption of 1.17+-0.97g per day and per head was observed for goats, 7.33+-1.04g per day for lactating goats and 4.8+-1.65g per head. day. The consumption of salt in the properties studied demonstrates that in the semi-arid region there is a deficiency of sodium and it is suggested that the mineral mixtures be prepared based on a daily consumption of salt of 30g for cattle and 5g for small ruminants.