Effect of Activated Carbon on Lamb Performance and Rumen Parameters

Abstract The addition of 5% activated carbon on a dry matter basis had no significant effect on weight gain or feed efficiency of lambs fed a ration containing 43% apple pomace contaminated with 2.2ppm DDT. Added carbon had no effect on hematocrit, erythrocyte concentration, serum copper or iron, or pH, per cent nitrogen or per cent volatile fatty acids of rumen fluid. However, added carbon significantly reduced leukocyte and hemoglobin concentrations in blood and number of protozoa per milliliter of rumen fluid.