Effectiveness of thiamin in reducing the impacts of high-sulfate water

Effectiveness of thiamin in reducing the impacts of high-sulfate water

Summary

Results from studies in 2003 and 2004 regarding the effectiveness of thiamin in reducing the effects of high-sulfate water on cattle performance were conflicting. We conducted another trial in 2005 to gain further clarification. That study revealed thiamin is not a reliable treatment for cattle on high-sulfate water. A literature search identified clinoptilolite as a promising feed additive for reducing high-sulfate water effects. Trials of clinoptilolite will begin in summer 2007 following the protocols identified in our proposal with the exception of the compound administered. This change has delayed the start of our research by one year.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Initiation of our study was delayed one year due to the need to identify a compound to replace thiamin in our trials. An extensive literature search identified clinoptilolite as a very promising feed additive for reducing high-sulfate water effects. Trials with clinoptilolite will begin in summer 2007 using the protocol originally established in our proposal.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Considerable interest has been shown in thiamin as a possible feed additive to reduce the negative consequences on performance of cattle drinking high-sulfate water. We conducted trials in 2003 and 2004 on thiamin that produced conflicting results. As part of our project we conducted another pretrial evaluation of thiamin in 2005 and determined that it was not effective. This result has been transmitted to the scientific community and, perhaps more importantly, to ranchers in the region dependent on high-sulfate water for their livestock. It is not only important to ensure that ranchers learn of effective treatments, but that they also learn of those that are not.

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