Herbal supplementation on growth performance of lambs

A trial was conducted to assess the effect of herbal feed supplementation on the growth performance of Mecheri lambs. A total of 32 weaner Mecheri lambs of both sexes were randomly allotted to four groups with 8 lambs (4 males and 4 females) in each group. First group (T-1) served as control. Lambs in T-2 were supplemented orally with the herbal immunomodulator, Go-Sanjeevi at weekly intervals (@ 1 g/kg body weight), the lambs of T-3 were supplemented orally with the herbal growth promoter masala bolus at fortnightly intervals (@ 1 g/kg body weight) and the fourth group (T-4) was drenched with herbal dewormer at monthly intervals (@1 ml/kg body weight). The initial mean body weights in T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4 were 12.41±0.21, 12.49±0.13, 12.54±0.13 and 12.48±0.12 kg and at eighth fortnight were 18.84±0.24, 19.31 ±0.21, 21.70±0.28 and 20.77±0.26 kg, respectively. The overall mean average daily gains were 57.36±1.40, 60.83±1.18, 81.75±2.72 and 74.05±1.31 g in T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4 groups, respectively. It was concluded that Mecheri lambs supplemented with masala bolus in addition to grazing recorded higher body weight at market age compared to the other groups.