What Am I Feeding? Part Two: Ammonium Chloride

Although it sounds like a potentially toxic chemical, ammonium chloride (NH4C1) can be a healthy, even lifesaving, aspect in the diet of male goats and sheep.

Ammonium chloride (AC) is usually in the form of a highly-soluble fine white crystal. It is the salt produced when you combine ammonia and hydrogen chloride. AC is used as an electrolyte to hydrate cells, an oxide remover for soldering, an ingredient in cough medications, and for cycling marine aquariums. Supposedly, feeding AC to bucks, rams, and wethers in very small quantities will prevent calcium build-up in the kidneys and urinary tract of goats.

Under normal conditions, male (especially neutered) goats and sheep do not need to be fed high-protein concentrates. To prevent urinary calculi, growing animals should have a 2:1 calcium phosphorus ratio. Thus, alfalfa, which has a 1:2 ratio, is a poor staple diet and is often mixed with grass hays.

Because castration eliminates the hormones needed for continued urinary tract development, it is highly recommended that goats and sheep be kept intact until they are at least 8-10 weeks old.

Urinary calculi development is also referred to as calculosis, urolithiasis, kidney/bladder stones, or waterbelly. When hard deposits of calcium, magnesium, and ammonia phosphates collect and prevent the outflow of urine, goats are suddenly in a painful and dangerous situation. Left untreated, the caculi (which vary in size from 1-10 mm) cause inflammation that results in discomfort and distention, and may lead to rupture of the bladder or urethra.

Female goats rarely suffer from calculosis because their urethra is short and expandable.

Alternatives to ammonium chloride are ammonium sulfate and apple cider vinegar. Neither of these is reported as having the same success rates as ammonium chloride. Many breeders do suggest having 3-4% salt in male goats' water to encourage drinking and passage of minerals.

Because improper supplements can be very dangerous for your animal, I will not include how much ammonium chloride to add to your goat or sheep's diet. I will, however, suggest that you print out applicable articles, such as Urinary Calculi and Goats and Nutritional Diseases and review them with your herd's veterinarian.

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