Copper and Zinc Supplementation to Corriedale Lambs in an Organized Farm of Kashmir Valley: A Preliminary Study

A study was conducted to observe the effect of copper and zinc supplementation on haematological, biochemical and growth performance in Corriedale lambs of three groups (6 lambs each) in an organized farm of Kashmir valley. All the Groups were fed oats hay ad lib and commercial pelleted feed 300 g per animal as basal diet, while group II was fed 2.5 ppm Cu, 10ppm Zn; and group III was fed 5 ppm Cu and 20ppm Zn per animal per day along with basal diet for 120 days. Hemetological parameters viz., haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total and leukocyte counts (TLC) and differential counts were statistically similar in all the groups. Biochemical parameters viz., plasma urea nitrogen, glucose, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride level was also statistically similar in all the groups. Dry matter, DCP and TDN intakes were higher in groups II and III (P<0.05). Digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF and NDF, ADF was higher in groups II and III as compared to group I. Initial body weight of groups I, II and III lambs were 16.31 kg, 16.56 kg and 16.48 kg, respectively, while average daily gain in the respective groups were 45.5 g, 57.67 g and 62.67 g, respectively. There was significant higher average daily gain in group II and III (P<0.05) as compared to group I. Wool shedding was decreased in group II and III animals as compared to group animals. It was concluded that supplementation of copper and zinc to lambs had positive effect on DM, DCP and TDN intake and digestibility of nutrients in Corridale lambs in Kashmir valley.