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.