The effects of using iodized salt blocks on serum iodine concentration and thyroid hormones in sheep

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Markazi Province, Iran,

Abstract

Background and objectives: Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which are vital for mammals. Iodine deficiency leads to insufficient production of thyroid hormones, and all the consequences of iodine deficiency stem from the associated hypothyroidism. Iodization of salt is a useful, simple and common approach to reduce iodine deficiency in the world, and the conversion of iodized salt in powder form into a salt block with free choice consumption by livestock can lead to its easy use. In this study the effect of two types of iodized salt blocks on the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders in livestock was investigated and compared.
Materials and methods: First, salt blocks containing potassium iodate or calcium iodate with an iodine concentration of 110 parts per million were prepared by compressing powdered salt. 63 young, non-pregnant Farahani ewes with similar average body weight (46 ± 4) were randomly divided into three groups of 21 heads each and each group was divided into three replicates of 7 heads each, including the control group and two experimental groups. The experimental period lasted two months. During this period, the animals grazed daily in groups in the pasture, and the time of return from the pasture was separated according to the experimental group and the corresponding replicate, and they were placed in the assigned pens, where they had the access to corresponding rock salt or salt block. The ewes in the control group used ordinary rock salt, the first experimental group used a salt block with potassium iodate and the second experimental group used a salt block with calcium iodate as free choice consumption. The trial period lasted two months, during which the amount of salt consumed, the iodine concentration at the level of salt blocks, the concentration of mineral iodine in the serum and the concentration of the hormones T3 and T4 were measured.
Results: The use of both supplements resulted in a significant increase in serum mineral iodine tested at the end of the trial period (P < 0.01), and serum mineral iodine concentrations were significantly higher for the calcium iodate supplement than for the potassium iodate supplement (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of T3 and T4 also increased in the supplemented groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between these two groups.
Conclusion: Iodized salt blocks prepared with both compounds are a suitable means of supplying iodine to livestock and preventing iodine deficiency disorders. These supplements are easy to use and can replace rock salt and be used as free choice consumption by livestock.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Ruminant Research
Volume 13, Issue 1
May 2025
Pages 151-164

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