DIETS containing 0, 4, 5 and 6% soluble oxalate were fed to sheep for approximately 100 days. The oxalate was supplied in the form of halogeton. The oxalate caused a slight hypocalcemia, increased serum phosphorus, and decreased serum magnesium. There was no effect, however, on calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium balance. Plasma urea nitrogen decreased and blood alkaline phosphatase, pH, pCO2 or pO2 remained unchanged. As the dietary oxalate increased, daily feed intake decreased, water intake increased, feces (wet) decreased and urine excretion increased. These data indicate that sheep can consume large amounts of halogeton. Diets may contain up to 36% halogeton with 16.6% soluble oxalate without causing ill effects. The danger to grazing sheep on ranges containing large amounts of halogeton appears to involve conditions leading to acute intoxication and death rather than chronic effects.
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James et al. (1972) studied this question.