Influence of dietary buffers on the growth rate and some blood constituents of sheep

Twenty four male growing lambs 7-8 months of age and weighting body weight 22.26 kg were divided randomly into four treatment groups, six lambs per each for 90 days. Animals were assigned to four equal groups each of six lambs. Animals in each group were fed on one of the following treatments; the control treatment (Gl) was composed of 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 20% berseem hay and 20% rice straw. In Treatments (G2) and (G3) the lambs received the basal diet plus 6% bentonite or dolomite clay of CFM; respectively. The last group treatment (G4) received the basal diet plus 6% mixed bentonite and dolomite (1:1 ratio) of CFM. The results indicated that digestibility coefficients of all nutrients and Total digestibility nutrients (TDN) improved significantly by addition of bentonite or dolomite. The pH values were within the normal range, TVFA s concentration significantly increased, while the NH3-N concentration decreased (P 0.05) in tested rations than control diet. Buffers supplementation decreased plasma urea nitrogen and GPT in Gl, G2 and G3 compared to control treatment. Additional buffers and were within the normal ranges increased (P 0.05) plasma cholesterol Other parameters plasma total protein, albumin, globulin and creatinine did not affected by the treatments Lambs fed T2 (6% bentonite) had the highest values of the average daily gain and feed conversion compared with other treatment groups. Moreover, it was found profit of lower feed cost of treated rations than the control group. Generally, adding bentonite or dolomite clay at 6% of CFM in diets growing lambs is recommended to improve animal performance