Effect of Addition of Different Concentrations of Bentonite to the Ration on Concentration of Blood Minerals and Ruminal Fluid Traits of Awassi Lambs

Hussien, Ahmed

doi:10.37940/AJVS.2020.13.1.3

	Effect of Addition of Different Concentrations of Bentonite to the Ration on Concentration of Blood Minerals and Ruminal Fluid Traits of Awassi Lambs
Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences
Volume 13, Issue 1, August 2020, Pages 20-26
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.37940/AJVS.2020.13.1.3
Author
Ahmed Hussien
Abstract
The study was conducted on know the effect of different levels of local Bentonite in a percent of 0, 1 and 3% to the ration of Awassi lambs on concentration of minerals and Ammonia concentration and the numbers of microflora of ruminal fluid. Fifteen Awassi lambs were used in this study, aged between 4-6 months with mean body weight of 27.57 ± 0.71 kg. The animals were an individual pens in a space of 1.5 × 2 m. The animals were divided randomly into three equal groups (5 lambs/ groups). The 1st group was regarded as a control group, While the 2nd and 3rd groups added to its concentrated ration the local Bentonite in a percentage of 1 and 3% respectively. The animals were fed on a concentrated ration 3% of the body weight and the rough ration (alfalfa hay) was given ad libtium. The results of the experiment showed there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the concentration of Ammonia nitrogen of ruminal fluid in the control and 3rd group (3% Bentonite), before morning fed. While there was significant (P>0.05) decrease in ruminal fluids of animals fed at the 2nd and 3rd group ration (1, 3% Bentonite) after two hours of morning fed as compared with the control group. The results also showed after four hours of morning feeding there was no significant difference between different groups in concentration of Ammonia in ruminal fluid. There was a significant decrease (P>0.05) in sodium salts in the blood of lambs fed on the 2nd and 3rd ration as compared with control ration. The results showed that the addition of Bentonite at different levels (0, 1, and 3) % on lamb ration has no effect on the concentration of blood Ca, Ma, K, and Al. It has been observed that there was a significant increase (P<0.01) in the numbers of ruminal fluid microflora after the addition of 3% Bentonite as compared with control and 1% Bentonite. It was concluded from this study that the addition of Bentonite to the lamb ration has a beneficial effect on blood sodium, ruminal fluid Ammonia, and the number of ruminal microflora.
Keywords
Bentonite salts; Ammonia nitrogen; Microflora; Blood minerals; Awassi lambs

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