Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
The loss of potassium through the cutaneous route was measured in three Chokla rams by balance trial and by washing the animals (ambient temperature 28–33 °C, 28–30 mmHg vapour pressure). The excretion of potassium through urine and faeces was 46·7 and 19·4% of the intake, respectively. The excretion through skin recorded by washing the animals was 29·1% against 33·7% potassium available for excretion through the thermoregulatory route. About 2·56 g potassium was thus excreted through the cutaneous route per day. There was a net retention of 9·8 g sodium/ram/day.