Effects of potassium in a purified equine diet.

This research article examines the effects of different levels of potassium in the diet of young orphaned horses (foals), assessing its impact on factors like feed intake, growth rate, and various blood parameters.

Research Methodology

• The researchers studied orphaned foals, aged between 11 to 57 days, originating from different breeds, providing them with diets that varied in potassium content represented as K2CO3. The percentage ranges of potassium in the diets were 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2%.
• Over the course of the experiment, they observed changes in feed intake, growth rate, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, white blood cell (WBC) counts, as well as serum levels of sodium (Na), potassium (K), and iron (Fe).

Key Findings

• The foals on the lowest potassium diet (0.2% K) had inadequate consumption rates to stimulate growth after 8 days.
• Foals fed with 1.0 and 1.2% K diet consumed significantly more food, approximately 28.8 and 27.5 g/kg body weight per day respectively, compared to those on 0.4% K diet.
• There wasn’t a significant difference in the growth rates of foals fed on diets having 0.4 to 1.2% K. These growth rates were comparable to naturally-fed foals and ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 kg/day.
• Foals given 0.8 to 1.2% K diet tended to gain weight most efficiently, requiring between 2.5 to 2.8 g of feed per gram gain, after adjusting for body weight.
• The 1.0% K diet led to higher levels of PCV, Hb, RBC, and serum Fe compared to diets consisting of either 0.4% or 1.2% K.
• The serum potassium (K) and iron (Fe) levels in foals fed 0.8 and 1.0% K were significantly higher than those fed 0.6% K.

Recommended Dietary Intake

• The researchers, based on their findings, suggested that an intake of 206 to 288 mg K/kg body weight per day, or 2.6 to 3.2 mg K/kcal, would be an appropriate dietary range for foals aged 1 to 3 months.