Effect of concentrate and urea molasses mineral block supplementation on blood biochemical profile of Mecheri lambs

Forty Mecheri male lambs (3–4 months old) were divided into 5 groups of 8 each and reared under T₁ -Grazing alone, T₂- Grazing + concentrate supplementation, T₃ - Grazing + (urea molasses mineral block) UMMB supplementation, T₄- Intensive rearing + concentrate supplementation and T₅ - Intensive rearing + UMMB supplementation for a period of 150 days. Blood samples were collected at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days of experiment. Serum protein increased in T₂ and T₃ groups whereas, serum albumin remained similar in all the groups. Serum calcium values were higher (P <0.05) in all the groups compared to the control and among them, UMMB supplementation group (T₃) had highest values. Concentrate supplemented group (T₂) had significantly (P<0.05) higher serum phosphorus. Grazing and concentrate supplementation group (T₂) had higher (P<0.05) serum cholesterol than grazing alone group (T₁) and stall-fed groups (T₄ and T₅). UMMB supplemented group (T₅) had significantly (P < 0.01) higher blood urea nitrogen values compared to other groups. It was concluded that blood biochemical parameters were influenced by supplementation of concentrate and UMMB.