Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of natural zeolite on the performance and nitrogen metabolism of Rambouillet ewe lambs. Forty Rambouillet ewe lambs with an initial weight of 41.06 ± 3.9 kg were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets, namely 0, 20, 40 and 60 g of natural zeolite (Comercializadora Omega® Mexico) per kg dietary dry matter in a completely randomized design and sixteen ewe lambs were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square metabolism study. Performance was not modified by natural zeolite levels in the diet, and daily gain showed a quadratic response. Ammonia concentration at 8 and 12 hours increased linearly with zeolite. Zeolite increased ruminal pH linearly at 8 and 12 hours. Acetate and butyrate presented a quadratic response, and total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration was linearly increased by zeolite. Nitrogen retention showed a linear and quadratic response to zeolite. The estimated fractions of protein digested in the small intestine, when rumen-fermentable energy was limiting (PDIE) and when rumen-fermentable nitrogen was limiting, showed a linear and quadratic response to zeolite. PDIE was positively correlated (r = 0.96) with average daily gain. Keywords : Sheep, ammonium, ruminal fermentation, productive, soluble nitrogen
Highlights
Natural zeolites are aluminium silicates, which can capture ammonium ions (NH4+), reducing the rate of their release and absorption from the rumen
The lambs were weighed at the beginning and the end of each period to estimate average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC) was expressed as the ratio of feed intake to ADG
Dry matter intake and feed conversion were not modified by the level of natural zeolite in the diet (Table 2), while daily gain showed a quadratic response (P
Summary
Natural zeolites are aluminium silicates, which can capture ammonium ions (NH4+), reducing the rate of their release and absorption from the rumen. Sadeghi & Shawrang (2006) included 30 g/kg of zeolite in a diet that contained 20 g/kg of urea and observed a decreased ruminal ammonia N concentration, increased fibre digestibility, and improved performance in Holstein steers.
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