The effect of different levels of sodium bicarbonate in lambs'ration on growth performance

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of sodium bicarbonate that was added into concentrate mixtures in 0.5 and 1 % on growth performance. In the experiment, 42 Akkaraman male lambs with 5.5—6 months old were used. The research works were conducted as 3 groups for the period of 56 days. The ration of the control group did not contain any sodium bicarbonate. The average of final weights of lambs in the groups were 48.08; 46.75 and 47.38 kg respectively fP The concentrates and wheat straw fed to the lambs ad libitum. Total feed consumption for all groups were 1750; 1773 and 1817 g respectively. Total feed intake per kg weight gain were found to be 7.51; 9.19 and 8.78 kg, respectively.