Ammonium chloride in animal production has applications as an economical alternative to other inputs, such as urea supplemented in cattle diets. But its application is not limited to this, so let's first understand what this compound is before discussing its applications.
Ammonium chloride is an inorganic chemical compound that is a source of nitrogen and chlorine, widely used in industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical applications. Its chemical formula is NH₄⁺.4Cl₂ is a white, crystalline solid at room temperature, soluble in water.
The production of ammonium chloride typically involves the reaction between ammonia (NH3) and NH4+.3Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrogen ions (H+) form a neutralization reaction. This reaction is a neutralization reaction, where hydrochloric acid donates a proton (H+ ion).+) to ammonia, resulting in the formation of ammonium chloride crystals. The chemical equation for this reaction is as follows:
NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl
The reaction can occur by directly mixing ammonia and hydrochloric acid gases or by dissolving hydrochloric acid in water and then adding the ammonia solution. On an industrial scale, the production of ammonium chloride involves introducing gaseous ammonia and gaseous hydrochloric acid into a reactor, where an exothermic reaction occurs to form solid ammonium chloride. Once formed, the ammonium chloride can be separated from impurities through purification processes such as crystallization and filtration, before being refined and packaged for transport and sale.
Animal production and ammonium chloride: could this be an interesting combination?
Research has been conducted applying ammonium chloride in various areas of animal production as a cheaper alternative to other inputs, such as livestock urea, and the results have been favorable to its use. In cattle farming, for example, ammonium chloride has been used as a source of non-protein nitrogen, as it is a more economical and efficient alternative to urea. Ammonium salts have been applied in dairy cattle farming to prevent milk fever in cows, as ammonium chloride induces metabolic acidosis, increases calcium mobilization from bones and absorption in the intestine, helping to reduce the problems caused by milk fever.
Some studies in fistulated dairy cows indicated that the use of ammonium chloride at 100% as a replacement for dietary urea reduced dry matter intake without loss of performance. Furthermore, it improved nutrient digestibility, reduced ruminal pH and plasma urea nitrogen concentration, but did not influence ruminal ammonia concentration or microbial protein synthesis. The use of ammonium chloride also allowed for more efficient nitrogen utilization, and it can be included in cattle diets at 1.4% on a dry matter basis.
However, it is important to monitor the dry matter intake of cattle and the inclusion level, because, like urea, ammonium chloride can be toxic when converted to ammonia in the rumen, potentially causing ruminal acidosis and triggering various systemic problems that affect productivity.
In confined sheep, ammonium chloride was tested as a urinary acidifier as a preventive method for obstructive urolithiasis, a disease in which partial or total obstruction of urinary flow occurs due to salt deposition and the formation of calculi in the bladder or urethra. The formation of these calculi occurs due to dietary imbalances, low water intake, mineral imbalance, or genetic predisposition, and can lead to reproductive problems, difficulty urinating, abdominal pain and distension, lethargy, anorexia, and death. (Ferreira) et al (2014) reported that the use of ammonium chloride was effective as a urinary acidifier in preventing struvite and calcium phosphate uroliths, which are preferentially formed in alkaline pH, without affecting the development, appetite and weight gain of the animals.
In general, the process of urine acidification occurs when ammonium chloride is absorbed by the body and converted in the liver into urea and hydrochloric acid (HCl), which in turn acts as a hydrogen donor.+, causing metabolic acidosis. OH+ It is excreted directly by the renal tubules to prevent acidemia, producing acidic urine, or it combines with HCO3-.3– to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)2) (Taton et al. 1984, Jones et al. 2009).
In poultry and swine farming, ammonium chloride is also useful when added to drinking water to reduce pH and control bacteria and the spread of waterborne pathogens. It has also been used to reduce cystitis in pregnant sows, through the same mechanism of reducing urinary pH mentioned earlier (DIAS). et al, (2015). In more specific cases, it has also been used to stimulate appetite and promote growth.
For every need, ammonium chloride can be considered and evaluated for its potential uses, as in addition to its application in animal production, it has several other industrial uses, such as in agriculture through fertilizers, in the production of chemical compounds, in the pharmaceutical industry, in metal processing, among others. It is worth noting that, for the applications mentioned here, it is an attractive and economical option. Consult our specialists to find an efficient solution for your needs through our customer service channels.
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