Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding of complete feed with two levels of Zeolite (1% and 2%) on aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and potassium (K) status in rumen fluid and different biological tissues of growing Naemi lambs. Twenty-four lambs were randomly selected and divided into three dietary groups and placed in separate pen/lamb (8 lambs/treatment). The three treatments were as follow: control (fed with complete feed as total mixed ratio [TMR]); T1 (TMR with drenching 1% of Zeolite daily); and T2 (TMR with drenching 2% of Zeolite daily). The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Digestibility trial was conducted at mid of the feeding trial using four lambs from each trial. At end of the trial, four lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and rumen fluid, liver, kidney, and meat were collected for mineral analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Results indicate that there is no significant difference (P >0.05) between the concentration of all the elements in all lambs' tissues, except for the concentration of aluminum in kidney and rumen fluid, as well as Mn in rumen fluid. Moreover, Mn concentration in rumen fluid was significantly (P < 0.05) decrease with zeolite supplementation, with significantly lower values for lambs from T2 when compared with T1 and control (339.47 vs. 379.82 and 524.90 mu g/g wet weight, respectively). Although the same trend was reported for Mn in the liver, no difference between T1 and T2 groups was observed. Moreover, numerical gradual increase coordinated with increased zeolite level (T2) was detected in concentration of Potassium in the liver, kidney, and rumen fluid, but not in meat. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were reported for Mn level between treatments, in which higher values were found for lambs from T1 and T2. Introduction of zeolite at 2% showed greater digestibility of the minerals under investigation. Moreover, the inorganic percentage in liver was significantly higher for lambs supplemented with zeolite when compared with control. This gives an indication that zeolite causes a great effect on mineral absorption, utilization, and accumulation in the liver. Furthermore, zeolite supplementation causes modification in the tested minerals' absorption and metabolism, which clear from the high correlation between the tested minerals in the different tissues. In conclusion, zeolite supplementation causes a variable effect on the absorption and utilization of Al, Cr, and Mn; however, no effect on K levels in different tissues was seen.