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Thirty-two Varamini male Iambs. about three months old and with 19.63±2.4 Kg body weight were used to study the effect of varying dietary cation-anion concentration [C-A] on growth performance, acid-base balance,
nutrient digestibility, bone strength and carcass characteristics. The rations contained 0, 200, 400 and 600 meq Na+K-CI-S/Kg of feed. Each group of
eight lambs was fed one of the rations ad libitum during a 1OO-day test. Body composition and nutrient digestibility of the rations were measured by urea dilution test and Cr203 method, respectively. At the end of feeding trial, the Iambs were slaughtered, dressing percentage, chemical composition of boneless carcass and bone strength were measured. Increasing the [C-A] of the rations resulted in higher average daily gain. 207 vs 261 g (P<0.05) and better feed conversion (7.20 vs 8.26). The results indicated that, ration containing 200, 400 and 600 meq per Kg DM had no effect on feed digestibility. The effect of [C-A] on blood pH was positive (P<0.05). The
effect of [C-A] on fat of whole carcass, hone, moisture, carcass dry matter was positive (P<0.05). The Iambs fed 0 [C-A] had the weakest bone strength.