Magnesium and nitrogen metabolism in lambs fed or abomasally infused with a high level of potassium.

Nine wether lambs fitted with abomasal cannulae were used in a 15 d experiment to study the effect of site and level of K administration on utilization of N and Mg. Treatments consisted of a control (CO) and 21.9 g K/d as feed grade KCl, either included in the diet (DK) or infused into the abomasum (AK). Nitrogen digestion and balance were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment. Magnesium absorption tended (P greater than .10) to be reduced by high K but was not affected (P greater than .10) by site of K administration. Urinary Mg and Mg balance were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment. Although plasma Mg concentrations were lower (P less than .10) in DK than AK, K level did not affect (P greater than .10) plasma Mg. Neither level nor site of K administration affected (P greater than .10) plasma insulin or glucose. These data suggest that the effects of high K intake on Mg utilization may involve both ruminal and intestinal influences.