Effect of different dietary levels and particle size of aluminosilicates and glauconite on ruminal dry matter disappearance, feed intake,nutrients digestibility and blood parameters in Dalagh sheep

Two independent experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of natural aluminosilicates and glauconite in sheep nutrition. At 1st experiment, dry matter disappearance of these minerals by two particle sizes (0.85-1 mm and <0.5 mm), was determined. For this, 3 fistulated Dalagh rams in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 2×4 by nylon bag technique were used. 2nd experiment conducted to investigate dietary effect of zeolite and perlite on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, fecal moisture and blood parameters. 2nd experiment carried out in a change-over design by 4 treatments, 4 periods and 4 non pregnant Dalagh ewes. Each experimental period was 15 days, including 10 days as adaptation and 5 days for total feces collection. Dietary treatments were: 1) control 2) control diet + two percent zeolite, 3) control diet + two percent perlite and 4) control diet + one percent zeolite + one percent perlite. Analysis of variance and separation of means by Duncan's multiple range tests were conducted by SAS software. 1st experiment showed that between two particle sizes of bentonite, there was no significant difference in dry matter disappearance (P>0.05), While, in other minerals these amount having certain trend for larger size, in any time, that was lesser than smaller size significantly (P<0.05) whereas maximum difference shown in zeolite supplemented treatment that in 48 h. were 6.71 and 52.03% in coarse and fine particle size respectively. The 2nd experiment indicated that 2% zeolite supplemented treatment had significantly higher apparent digestibility of CP, Ca and P in comparison to other groups (P<0.05). Supplementation of ewe diet by two percent zeolite and perlite can be lead to better performance.