Potassium for Feedlot Cattle Exposed to Heat Stress

Authors

Terry L. Mader, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Leslie J. Johnson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2012

Comments

Published in 2012 Beef Cattle Report (2012) p. 91-93. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Angus crossbred yearling heifers and steers (n = 144 and 168, respectively) were used to evaluate effects of feeding soybeans and additional potassium (K) on performance and tympanic temperature (TT) of cattle under heat stress and seasonal summer conditions. In Experiment 1, cattle fed diets supplemented with potassium carbonate had lower ADG and tended to have decreased water intake, G:F, and dressing percent. In Experiment 2, cattle fed diets supplemented with K with or without whole soybeans had lower or tended to have lower TT than control cattle during the hottest portion of the day (between 1300 and 2100 hours).