Effect of cobalt supplementation on nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of mandya lambs

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of cobalt (Co) supplementation on nutrient intake, digestibility and growth in lambs. Eighteen Mandya lambs (3 to 4 months old) were randomly divided into three groups (control, T1 and T2). Lambs in control group were fed finger millet straw and compounded feed mixture as basal diet while lambs in T1 and T2 were additionally supplemented 0.50 and 0.75 mg Co/kg dry matter, respectively for 12 weeks. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect of Co supplementation on dry matter, crude protein intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in lambs. Similarly, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total protein and glucose concentrations were also remained non significant (P>0.05) among groups. Dietary supplementation of cobalt did not significantly (P>0.05) effect the average daily gain and total body weight gain in lambs. It was concluded that supplementation of 0.50 and 0.75 mg Co/kg DM did not have any effect on nutrient intake, digestibility, serum biochemical and growth in lambs.