Silanikove, N., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981
Holzer, Z., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981
Cohen, D., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981
Benjamin, R., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981
Gutman, M., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981
Meltzer, A., Ministry of Agriculture, Karei Deshe, Beef Cattle Experimental Station, Migal-Galilee Tech. Centre, Kiryat Shamona, 10200, Israel Tel.: (069) 44981

1. 1. Metabolism of tritiated water and 22sodium was studied in six beef cows under Mediterranean summer conditions in order to find whether the turnover of these tracers can be used to evaluate pasture intake. 2. 2. The diet of the cows included ad libitum access to two components which were given separately in different troughs: one was poultry litter and the other was wheat straw, to simulate the dry pasture. 3. 3. Voluntary daily dry matter intake (111 g/kg0.75) was unexpectedly high considering the low digestibility of the feed. 4. 4. The assumptions of constant ratios of water intake to water turnover and of dry matter intake to water intake were confirmed. Consequently, dry matter intake was determined accurately from water turnover measurements. 5. 5. Sodium intake was practically equal to sodium turnover and most of the sodium secreted in feces was of endogenous origin. 6. 6. Pasture intake can be predicted from sodium turnover once the concentration in feed and water consumed is known. © 1987.