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Background: Incorporation of bentonite into the diets of ruminants can be helpful to maximize their performance. Modifying the structure of bentonite to nano and nanocomposite has improved their chemical stability and physicochemical properties, enhancing adsorption, absorption, and cation exchange capacity. Aims: This study aimed to assess the effect of magnetic bentonite nanocomposite (MBNC) on in vivo and in vitro fermentation process patterns, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of Baluchi male lambs. Methods: Effects of control (basal diet), natural bentonite (NB) (10 g/kg dry matter (DM)), processed bentonite (PB) (5 and 10 g/kg DM basal diet), and MBNC (5 and 10 g/kg DM basal diet) on gas production (GP), and the fermentation process were determined using in vitro GP technique. For the in vivo experiment, 20 Baluchi male lambs were used with 4 experimental treatments: control, NB (5 g/kg DM), PB (5 g/kg DM), and MBNC (5 g/kg DM) and 5 replications in a completely randomized design for 60 consecutive days. Results: The potential for GP and its fractional rates were significantly decreased and increased in MBNC, respectively (P<0.01). The lowest cumulative GP, and CH4 yield were observed in MBNC (P<0.05). In vitro, DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility and all fermentation parameters increased with the addition of two levels of MBNC to the culture medium (P<0.01). Except for feed conversion ratio (FCR), other growth performance parameters increased with the addition of MBNC to the diet (P<0.01). The ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), acetate, and propionate significantly increased when MBNC incorporated to the diet (P<0.01). The NH3-N (P<0.001) was significantly decreased in MBNC. The bentonite supplementation decreased acetate to propionate (P=0.001) compared to the control. Conclusion: Adding MBNC at the 5 g/kg diet DM level can be used as a useful supplement to optimize rumen fermentation pattern, reduce methane production, and increase lamb performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bentonite is considered the most effective adsorbent for aflatoxin (AF) decontamination, and recent studies have shown that changing its structure in nano form improves its physicochemical properties and chemical stability. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of bentonites as binders on performance, plasma metabolites, and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) levels in contaminated milk of Baluchi ewes. The study was conducted with 12 ewes randomly assigned to four different experimental diets. The experimental diets were: (1) control (the basal diet had no supplements and contained bakery waste naturally contaminated with AF); (2) control diet supplemented with natural bentonite (NB) (5 g/kg DM); (3) control diet supplemented with modified bentonite (MB) (5 g/kg DM) and (4) control diet supplemented with magnetic bentonite nanocomposite (MBNC) (5 g/kg DM). The study found that adding bentonite clays to the diet of ewes resulted in increased milk yield (P<0.01) and milk components (P<0.01) such as fat, protein, lactose, total solids, and solids not fat. The highest milk yield and milk components were observed in the MBNC treatment. However, there was no significant difference in glucose, urea, cholesterol, albumin, globulin, and total protein among the diets (P>0.05). The study also found that increasing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) intake resulted in a decreased carryover of AFB1 into AFM1 (P<0.01), with MBNC having the lowest carryover compared to other treatments (P<0.01). These results suggest that modification of bentonite structure in nanocomposite form improves chemical stability, physicochemical properties, and efficiency as novel toxin binders for crops and animal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]