Drinking of Sulfate-Water by Cattle

Abstract

Nine growing Hereford heifers were offered as drinking water either tap-water, 5,000 ppm Na2SO4-water or 4,110 ppm NaCl-water. The experimental design was a 3 × 3 latin square with replicates. Experimental periods were 30 days. Total urine was collected on the last 7 days with renal clearance observations being made on the sixth day. The season was summer. The heifers drank less, ate less and lost weight while consuming the sulfate-water. The sulfate ion caused a relative diuresis. Percent urine water of free-water intake was 33.8 with sulfate-water, but only 22.1% with tap water. Total hemoglobin concentration was unaffected by the saline drinking waters, however, the sulfate-water caused a 450% increase in methemoglobin concentration and the development of 416.9 mg/100 ml of sulf-hemoglobin. The two nonfunctional hemoglobins comprise 6.2% of total hemoglobin at this time. Drinking the sulfate-water increased serum sulfate concentration 63.1%, increased renal filtration of sulfate 45.2%, but decreased renal reabsorption of sulfate by 27.5%. Drinking sulfate-water did not alter plasma calcium concentration or renal excretion of calcium. A specific toxic effect of drinking the Na2SO4-water was not apparent, however, the adverse effects seen were related to the sulfate ion. Only a slight polyposia and diuresis were observed with drinking of the NaCl-water.