Currently differences in proportions of particle sizes between the ration fed and the residual ration indicates if dairy cattle are sorting their feed. However, results using the Penn State Particle Sorter (PSPS) can be variable depending on the dry matter of the ration and how vigorously and consistently PSPS is shaken for each sample. Examining differences in chloride concentration (CC) of the ration between the ration fed and residual ration may be an easier and more accurate method to assess ration sorting by dairy cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine if CC in the ration fed compared with the residual ration could also be used to assess ration sorting by dairy cattle. Ten samples each of the ration fed and the residual ration were collected from 2 pens, including cows close to calving and cows 30–200 d in milk, from 5 dairies in Tulare County CA. Total CC, and CC from each tray of the PSPS was measured by soaking 30 g of sample in 200 mL of de-ionized water for 2 h and then measuring CC using an Oakton waterproof SaltTestr meter (Oakton Instruments, Vernon Hills IL) with a range of 0 to 1% chloride. Overall CC increased with decreasing particle size with means (standard deviations) of CC of 0.195% (0.048), 0.254% (0.041), 0.264% (0.055) and 0.277% (0.080) for top, middle, screen and bottom trays of the PSPS, respectively. Statistics were performed using Proc GLM (SAS Institute, 2013) with CC and PSPS % from each tray regressed on sample type (ration fed or residual ration) for each dairy and pen and if different (P < 0.05), then the ration was sorted. For 8 pens representing 4 dairies, results for sorting (fed vs residual) were consistent between PSPS and CC. However for 1 dairy (2 pens), CC indicated sorting and PSPS did not. Therefore, results from CC and PSPS indicate that CC maybe an equivalent method to identify ration sorting but more research needs to be done to determine why results were not consistent on 1 dairy.