The effect of different levels of sulfur Bentonite on performance, digestibility of nutrients, rumination behavior, blood and rumen parameters in Dalagh

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of sulfur bentonite on performance, digestibility of nutrients, rumination behavior, blood and rumen parameters in Dalagh ewes, 18 non-pregnant lactating ewes with an average weight of 38±3.5 kg were used. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replications. The treatments included: 1- control (without sulfur bentonite), 2- containing 0.15% dry matter sulfur bentonite and 3- containing 0.3% dry matter sulfur bentonite. The results of this experiment showed that different levels of bentonite sulfur in ewes had no significant effect on the weight at the end of the experiment, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, dry matter intake, rumination behavior, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, globulin and blood albumin/globulin ratio. The use of different levels of bentonite sulfur reduced the apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, increased glucose and blood urea (P<0.05). Also, bentonite sulfur treatments had lower protozoan population, pH of three hours after morning feeding and higher rumen ammonia concentration than the control treatment (P<0.05). In overall, the use of sulfur bentonite up to 0.3% of the dry matter of the diet decreased the digestibility of dry and organic matter, although a tendency to improve the feed conversion ratio and daily weight gain was observed