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This study evaluated the effects of fossil shell flour (FSF) supplementation on heat tolerance of Dohne Merino sheep. Twenty-four ( n  = 24) Dohne Merino rams of about 4 months old, weighing 22.3 ± 0.43 kg were confined in individual pens using complete randomized design for a period of 100 days. The rams were subjected to four varying inclusion levels of fossil shell flour (0 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 40 g/kg and 60 g/kg. Water and feed intake were recorded throughout the period of successive feeding. On days 0, 45 and 90, blood samples were collected for analyses. The parameters monitored included the average daily water intake (ADWI), average feed intake (ADFI), skin temperature (ST), respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), rectal temperature (RT), total plasma protein (TPP), blood glucose (GLU), red blood cell (RBC),white blood cell (WBC), Heamaglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Packed cell volume (PCV), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). The inclusion levels of FSF affected ADWI and ADFI, revealing high water intake and feed intake in rams subjected to 40 g/kg of FSF followed by 60 g FSF/kg, 20 g FSF/kg and 0 g FSF/kg ( P< 0.01) respectively. All the physiological parameters (ST, RT, RR and PR) decreased with increase in inclusion levels of FSF ( P < 0.01). The TPP and GLU increased as the levels of FSF increases ( P < 0.01). The RBC and WBC were higher in rams subjected to FSF supplemented diets compared to the control ( p <0.05). We conclude that water and feed intake increase with increasing levels of the FSF while the physiological parameters decline as levels of FSF increases. Hence, fossil shell flour could be used as a supplement in Dohne-Merino rams' diet to mitigate heat stress and promote overall productivity of the sheep., Competing Interests: The authors wish to declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript., (© 2020 The Authors.)

This study was carried out to determine the effect of varying levels of Fossil shell flour (FSF) supplementation on growth performance, water intake, digestibility and N retention in Dohne Merino sheep pursuant to establishing the optimum inclusion rate of this supplement in Dohne Merino diets. Sixteen Dohne-Merino wethers (18 ± 1.5 kg body weight) were used in a complete randomized design with four animals per treatment. Sheep were fed a basal diet without FSF addition (control, T1), or with the addition of FSF (2%, T2), (4%, T3) or (6%, T4) of the diet for 105 days. Treatment 3 (4% FSF) has the highest values of dry matter intake, total weight gain, N retention and for most of the apparent digestibility nutrients (CP, EE and Ash) compared to treatment T1, T2 and T4( p < 0.05). The urinary and fecal N excretion also significantly decreased in the FSF treated diets compared to the control ( p < 0.05). Water intake values were highest in control and were significantly ( p < 0.05) different from those in treatments 2 and 4, but not to treatment 3. It is concluded that 4% inclusion rate of FSF will give the best improvement on growth performance, diet digestibility and N retention of Dohne-Merino sheep. Also, the addition of FSF in the diets of sheep is a safe natural additive that can help to reduce environmental pollution by reducing fecal and urinary N excretion.

Fossil shell flour (FSF), also known as Diatomaceous earth, or diatomite, consists of amorphous silicates with important physical and chemical characteristics, including porosity and permeability, low density and thermal conductivity, tiny particle size, high surface area, solubility, hydrophobia, and absorption capabilities, which are molecular filter actors, substituting their integral cations without physical changes. The substance is nontoxic, cheap, and readily available in large quantity in many countries. Recently, FSF has been modified as additives for several uses. Recent studies have supported its use as animal growth promoter, vaccine adjuvant in livestock, water purifier, mycotoxin binder, inert dust applications in stored-pest management, pesticide, animal feed additive, as a natural source of silicon in livestock and as natural anthelmintic. Numerous advantages of FSF include its low-cost and availability, its nontoxic characteristics, and the fact that food grade diatomaceous earth is safe for human consumption. In this paper, we review the main uses of FSF in the livestock industry, with reference to similar works earlier published that elucidate their important roles.