Gut Clearance and True Metabolizable Energy Value of Dehydrated Alfalfa Supplemented with Sodium Chloride

Dehydrated alfalfa (30 g), supplemented with .00, .15, .30, .45, or .60 g of sodium chloride, was force-fed to starved adult White Leghorn cockerels. The rate of clearance of alfalfa residues was not affected by the supplemental salt; there was a high level of variability between birds within treatment groups. The true metabolizable energy value of the alfalfa was unchanged by the salt.