Dietary Cation Anion Difference
(DCAD)
•
Used to characterize large animal diets
•
•
DCAD = Na
+
+ K
+
– Cl
-
•
•
Affects [SID]
•
•
Corn: 58
mEq/kg DM
Alfalfa:
323 mEq/kg DM
•
Oats:
73
mEq/kg DM
Bermuda grass hay:
427 mEq/kg DM
•
(NRC 1989)
•