CHANGES IN HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN RAM LAMBS FED ON HORSE GRAM TANNINS AND PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION DIETS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of probiotics supplementation and tanniferous diet  inclusion on health status by estimating the hematological and biochemical diagnostic parameters in  Deccani ram lambs. 18 Deccani ram lambs of uniform body weight (16.5±0.64 kg) were randomly allotted  to 3 groups in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were viz., T1: Basal diet (chopped  sorgum stover + chopped green fodder as roughage source) + group 1 concentrate, T2: Basal Diet + Group  2 concentrate (with horse gram), T3: Basal diet + Group 3 concentrate supplemented with probiotics @  4kg per100kg concentrate. Deccani ram lambs were fed the respective diets ad lib. to meet the nutrient  requirements throughout 90 days of feeding trial. Blood glucose concentration was comparable among the  experimental groups, however relatively higher (P<0.05) total proteins, cholesterol, albumin and globulin  concentration in blood serum was observed with probiotic supplementation and horse gram inclusion.  Significant (P<0.05) increase in the mean serum liver enzymatic activities was observed in growing  Deccani ram lambs during experimentation than before start of experiment. Serum cobalt, copper, zinc,  iron, magnesium and manganese values were comparable among the experimental groups, however a  significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in the mean mineral values in growing Deccani ram lambs  during experimentation than before start of experiment. It may be concluded that, inclusion of tanniferous  protein had no detrimental effect on health as reflected in serum metabolites and serum minerals.