Effect of different forms of trace minerals on the performance of garole sheep

A growth study was carried out with different forms of trace minerals on Garole sheep kids (15; 3–4 old of 1kg BW). The kids divided into three equal groups were offered diet supplemented with conventional trace minerals (TM) inorganic (TMCi) or organic chelates (TMCo) of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) for 90 days. The highest body weight gain was observed in TMCo followed by TMCi and TM respectively. Higher (P<0.01) values of Cu, Zn observed in TMCo followed by TMCi and TM respectively. The digestibility of DM, OM, CF and NFE was higher (P<0.01) with TMCo and TMC. than the TM. It was inferred that both organic and inorganic chelated minerals had superior growth promoting effect on Garole sheep. Out of the two different forms of chelated trace minerals, organic chelate showed better growth performance in Garole sheep.