Effect of milk replacer supplementation on growth and disposal of neonatal lambs of indian sheep

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the effect of milk replacer (MR) supplementation on growth and mortality of neonatal lambs. The lambs in treatment group were supplemented MR (Memnaprash©) from 4 to 28 days of age in addition to ewe suckling as compared to only ewe suckling in the control. Observations were recorded for daily milk intake, body weight at birth, 7 , th 15 , 22 and 30 days of age and mortality / culling, if any. In single-born lambs, MR intake varied th nd th significantly (P<0.001) from 103.8±5.2, 91.9±11.7 and 124.3±15.2 ml (on 4 day of age) to th 373.4±27.0, 392.1±26.2 and 433.2±21.7 ml (on 26 -28 days of age) and in multiple- born lambs, th th from 79.4±6.6, 75.8±11.2 and 130.6±7.0 ml (4 day of age) to 358.6±27.3, 440.8±35.4 and th 431.7±11.0 ml (on 27 -28 ) day of age in Malpura, Avikalin and Avishaan sheep, respectively. In th th comparison to the control the total lamb weight per ewe at one month of age was higher (5.67% in Malpura, 15.5% in Avikalin and 11.4% in Avishaan) in MR supplemented group. The overall disposal was almost two times higher in control (27.32%) as compared to treatment group (14.05%). After supplementation ofMRfor 25 days, the net return increased by Rs 218.00 per ewe (18.53%) over the control. The study suggested that supplementation of MR in lambs is a remurerative approach for improving growth and reducing disposal of lambs in Indian sheep.