Effect of Plane of Nutrition on Nutrient Utilization, Haemato-biochemical Parameters and Immune Response in Haemonchus contortus Infected Sheep

Eighteen Muzaffarnagari adult sheep, aged 11–13 months and average body weight of 28.90 kg infected with of Haemonchus contortus divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each were fed three levels of concentrate mixture (groundnut cake and wheat bran in 70: 30 ratio) i.e. low plane (200 g), medium plane (300 g) and high plane (400 g) to groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, along with ad libitum mixed green fodder (green maize+grasses) to discern the effect on nutrient utilization, certain haemato-biochemical parameters and immune response. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. There was significantly higher daily dry matter, TDN and DCP intakes (P<0.05) in sheep of group 3 and 2 than group 1. Digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, CP and NFE were significantly (P<0.01) higher in sheep fed high plane and medium plane of concentrate mixture. Blood samples collected from each animal on 0, 30^th, 60^th and 90^th day post feeding periods showed that total erythrocyte counts and differential leukocyte counts were not affected significantly due to plane of nutrition and values were within the normal physiological range, however, lymphocyte (P<0.01) and neutrophil (P<0.05) counts differed significantly at the start of feeding trial and later on the values did not differ among the groups. The eosinophil counts were significantly (P<0.01) lower in group 3 on 60 days of feeding, whereas on 90th day, sheep in groups 2 and 3 had lowered eosinophil counts. Serum globulin concentration in response to H. contortus infection was influenced much in high plane of nutrition as compared to low plane. The antibody titer in sheep of groups 2 and 3 was significantly (P<0.01) higher as compared to group 1 from 30 day feeding trial onwards. The over all average faecal egg counts in the experimental sheep were significantly (P<0.05) lower in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1. It was concluded that higher plane of nutrition improved nutrient utilization and immune status in sheep infected with H. contortus.