EFFECT OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF LAMBS
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Date
2017-10
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dietary supplemental Zn on feed
intake, digestibility of nutrients, growth performance and blood biochemical parameters
in growing Mandya lambs. Eighteen lambs, aged 3-4 months with average body weight
of 9.71 kg were divided into three groups of six each based on body weight. The
experimental groups viz. T1, T2 and T3 received a basal diet comprising finger millet
straw (Elucine coracana) and compounded feed mixture, fed in calculated quantities to a
targeted body weight gain of 100 g per day. The Zn content in the diet of group T1 was
29.4 (control), while the groups T2 and T3 received additional supplementation of Zn (as
ZnSO4) at 100 and 200 ppm respectively. The duration of the growth trial was 12 weeks.
Dietary supplementation of Zn increased (P<0.05) the average daily weight gain of lambs
(82.6, 103 and 102 g per day for T1, T2 and T3 groups respectively). Zinc
supplementation also increased (P<0.05) the feed intake and apparent digestibility of
DM, OM, NDF and ADF. The concentration of alkaline phosphatase and total serum
proteins in groups T2 and T3 was higher (P<0.05) than the control groups. Feeding 200
ppm of Zn had no advantage compared to 100 ppm supplementation, in any of the
parameters studied. It was concluded from the study that, as against the recommended
levels of 30 ppm of Zn the diet of growing lambs, supplementation of 100 ppm could be
more beneficial for achieving a higher growth performance in lambs.