Potassium
CARAMIE, Wy. - “Potassium
supplementation has been shown
to increase milk production, calf
survival rate, calf weaning weight
and cow reproductive efficiency,”
according to J.W. Waggoner,
University of Wyoming animal
nutritionist. “Potassium is a tool
that when used properly will in
crease the productivity and per
formance of the beef cow herd.”
Potassium deficiencies are
characterized by symptoms that
include decreased feed intake
coupled with a subsequent decline
in the ability to use digested
protein and energy. As a result, the
growth rate of young cows declines
and overall herd milk productivity
and reproductive efficiency
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increases
decrease. The end result is a
decline in weaning weights of
calves currently on the ground,
plus fewer calves born over a
longer period the following year. In
a severe deficiency, production
declines are often accompanied by
pica (hair licking, wood chewing),
muscular weakness and stiffness.
“Evaluation of wide range of
feedstuffs routinely used by cow
calf operators indicates that
dietary potassium deficiencies
may be a common problem"
Waggoner suggests. “And it’s a
problem that may have gone
overlooked or unrecognized for
years, especially in cows grazed
during portions of the year on
cured forages or crop aftermath.”
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beef cow herd productivity
In a Wyoming study started in
December, 1977, he continues, 271
pregnant crossbred spring-calving
cows of mixed ages were divided
into two groups. One group was fed
free choice 37% crude protein
molasses blocks containing 2.25%
potassium. The other group was
fed free-choice similar blocks
containing 4.15% potassium.
Potassium chloride was used to
provide the additional potassium
in the supplements. (In June the
two groups were combined and run
as a common herd on native range
with no block supplement fed.)
Throughout the entire 288-day
study period, which included the
potassium - supplemented winter
period as well as the summer
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period, cows in the high-potassium
group lost an average of 11 lbs. less
than cows in the low-potassium
group. And, during the 76-day
period of April 3 - June 19, which
included calving and early lac
tation, low-potassium cows lost 66
lbs. more than high-potassium
Table 1: Cow weights and weight changes as affected by potassium level in the
winter supplement (Wyoming winter, 1977-1978)
Item
Cow Weights
Initial (Dec 15,1977)
Feb 6.1978
Pre-calving (April 3,1978)
Post-calving(June 19,1978)
Final (weaning, Sept 29,1978)
Cow Weight Changes
Initial to Feb 5,1978 (53 days)
Initial to Pre-calving (109 days)
Initial to Post-calvmg(lB6 days)
Initial to Final (288 days)
Calving changes (post-calving
minus pre-calving, 76 days
At branding, "calves suckling
cows wintered on the high
potassium supplement were 15 lbs.
heavier than similar-sired calves
whose dams were fed the low-
Table 2: Calf weights as affected by potassium level in the winter supplement of
their dams (Wyoming winter, 1977-1978).
Item
Average birth date
Birth weight, lbs.
Branding wt. (June 19,1978), lbs.
Weaning wt. (Sept. 29,1978), lbs.
"When rebreeding efficiency bull clean-up perind ffian for i Uie
was considered," he continues, (S !!
"there was a definite trend The breeding
favoring higher conception rates to sn increased level of potassium
for high-potassium cows bred the unportmice tins
artificially using estrus syn- nutrient could have on
chronization followed by a 45-day
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“This suggests,” Waggoner
explains, “that cows on the
elevated level of potassium sup
plementation recovered more
rapidly from calving and were
stressed less during early lactation
than similar cows fed the lower
level of potassium.” See Table 1.
2.25% potassium 4.15% potassium
(lb) (lb)
potassium supplement,”
Waggoner says, “And at weaning,
calves on the high-potassium cows
were still 11 lbs. heavier.” See
Table 2.
2.25% potassium 4.15% potassium
supplement supplement
April 18 April 19
75 75
172 187
396 406
986
1010
1043
942
942
970
999
1054
887
915
29
84
-83
-55
24
57
-44
-44
-101
167
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