Abstract
The inclusion of 5 percent of potassium as the bicarbonate in a cottonseed hulls—ground milo—soybean oil meal diet resulted in a significant lowering of the magnesium content of the serum. This hypomagnesemia was without clinical symptoms. The limitation of water or the deprivation of sodium chloride did not accentuate the hypomagnesemia. The calcium, potassium, sodium and total protein content of the serum were not markedly altered by the ingestion of potassium bicarbonate. A mild hypocalcemia was evident early in the experimental period in sheep with the limited water supply, but after 62 days the potassium-fed sheep tended toward a hypercalcemia. A mild hyperkaliemia was evident at 12 days, but later disappeared. The sodium and protein contents of the serum were unaffected. The inclusion of potassium bicarbonate in the diet decreased feed intake and gain. Deprivation of sodium chloride and water appeared to accentuate the decrease in rate of gain. A transient mild hypersensitivity was indicated in the animals receiving the low-salt, high-potassium diets. The relations of these findings to the etiology of grass tetany is discussed. Copyright © . .