Metabolic acidosis corrected by including antioxidants in diets of fattening lambs

Thirty-two Merino lambs fed barley straw and a concentrate alone (CONTROL) or CONTROL enriched with vitamin E (0.6 g kg−1 of concentrate, VITE006) or carnosic acid (0.6 g kg−1 of concentrate CARN006; 1.2 g kg−1 of concentrate, CARN012) were used to assess the effect of these antioxidant compounds on metabolic acidosis. After 7 wk of being fed the experimental diets, the pH of blood samples was lower (P = 0.012) for the CONTROL lambs than groups fed antioxidants. Metabolic acidosis in fattening lambs was corrected by both antioxidants (carnosic acid and vitamin E).