Utilization of dietary minerals and blood biochemical values in lambs fed hydrated sodium calcium alumino silicate sorbent material at supplementary level

An investigation was made in lambs to study the utilization of dry matter (DM), dietary minerals and changes in certain blood biochemical values due to the inclusion of hydrated sodium calcium alumino silicate (HSCAS) as a sorbent material in the concentrate mixture. Fourteen lambs of uniform age and body weights were allotted to two dietary groups, control (T1) and experimental group supplemented with 5 g kg−1 of HSCAS (T2). The feeding was continued for 105 days and the results indicated no variation in the intake of concentrate, hay and also the fortnightly body weight changes between the groups. Digestibility trial conducted showed that the dry matter (DM) consumption varied between 3.21 and 3.28% of their body weight and the ratio of concentrate and hay consumption was 37:63 (T1) and 36:64 (T2), respectively. The digestibility coefficient of DM between the groups varied non-significantly (T1: 0.541 ± 0.018; T2: 0.576 ± 0.023). Though the intake of minerals studied was similar in both the groups, the apparent gut absorption coefficients of copper (Cu: 0.239 ± 0.028 and 0.107 ± 0.010), Zinc (Zn: 0.279 ± 0.024 and 0.213 ± 0.019), Iron (Fe: 0.175 ± 0.015 and 0.128 ± 0.055) and Manganese (Mn: 0.423 ± 0.028 and 0.356 ± 0.015) were significantly (P < 0.01; 0.05) lower in lambs fed HSCAS. However the utilization of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P) and Magnesium (Mg) did not differ. Analysis of blood plasma at 0, 50 and 100 days of feeding period for total protein, albumin, globulin and urea did not show any significant variation due to HSCAS feeding. It is concluded that inclusion of HSCAS at 5 g kg−1 concentrate mixture resulted in lower absorption of certain trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) and thus it is required to additionally supplement these minerals in diet when such sorbent material is used.