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Salt Toxicity Guidelines
- The National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) can test water to determine if
there is a problem with the salinity of the water to which cattle have access.
- Every location is different, so be sure to check, and each location where cattle are
located should be tested and assessed as encountered.
- Salt toxicity may become an issue if cattle are stranded and only have access to
brackish water for several days.
- When providing water to stranded animals, the salt content should be assessed, and
initially be cut by 50 percent for the first few days.
- Watch the salt content in feeds, although bulk feeds may be easier to transport, the
salt content will add to the problem.
- Do not feed range cubes to cattle that were stranded, but instead, provide hay, while
weaning the animals from the brackish water onto fresh water.
- Due to rains, canals and bayous will slowly "freshen up", naturally weaning the cattle
off of the brackish water.
- Don't stress the cattle. This will increase
the mortality rate.
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