title: Effect of dietary potassium on absorption of magnesium and other macroelements in sheep fed different levels of magnesium.
abstract: Two metabolism trials were conducted with 24 crossbred wether lambs. Two levels of Mg (.1 and .2%) and four levels of K (.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 4.8%) were fed in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. Each trial consisted of a 10-d preliminary period followed by a 10-d collection of feed, feces and urine. Increasing levels of dietary K resulted in a linear increase in fecal Mg excretion and a linear decrease in Mg absorption. A large depression in Mg absorption occurred when K was increased from 1.2 to 2.4% with a further decrease when K was increased to 4.8%. Lambs fed the high level of Mg (.2%) absorbed and retained more (P less than .05) total Mg (g/d, but not percentage of intake) compared with the low magnesium level (.1%). Dietary Mg did not affect the amount of K excreted, absorbed or retained. Increasing the level of dietary K resulted in a linear increase in urinary, fecal and total K excreted, absorbed and retained (P less than .05).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium