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Dietary silica effects on mineral metabolism in lambs |
A. Prabowo, J. W. Spears |
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Abstract |
Eighteen wether lambs averaging 32 kg were used to determine the effects of dietary silica, added as silicic acid, on mineral metabolism. Lambs were fed 1200 g daily of a coastal Bermuda grass based diet supplemented with either 0, .5 or 1.5% silicic acid. A 7-d total collection of urine and feces was conducted after lambs had adjusted to the dietary treatments for 19 days. Urinary excretion of silica was higher (p<.01) in lambs fed added silicic acid. Ruminal soluble concentrations of manganese tended to be lower (p<.10) and apparent absorption and retention of manganese were lower (p<.05) in lambs supplemented with silicic acid compared to control lambs. Apparent absorption and retention of calcium were slightly lower (p<.10) in silicic acid fed lambs. No differences in urinary between lambs fed .5 and those given 1.5% silicic acid. Phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper absorption and retention were not affected by treatment. |
Keywords:
Silica; Manganese; Calcium; Minerals; Lambs |
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