Author(s):

Nadar Khan, Maleeha Anwar, Shoaib Sultan, Masooma Abbas, Arshia Musadiq and Faiza Ashraf

Abstract: To evaluate the effect of concentrate ration and grazing on feed utilization and faecal egg count in lambs and to assess the immune suppressive effect of gastrointestinal parasites in lambs. Nine Balkhi lambs of same breed, age (2-2.5 months) and body weight (21 ±2 Kg) were purchased from local market and randomly divided into three groups named A, B and C, under completely randomized design. All the animals were allowed to graze on natural pasture twice a day while concentrate diet was offered to group B and C at evening. Group ‘A’ lambs were on conventional grazing. Whereas group B and C lambs were grazed and also supplemented with a concentrate diet having 17% crude protein as per NRC recommendations (1985). The latter group was drenched with an anthelmintic (Albandazole @75mg/kg). Statistically significant difference p<0.05 recorded for overall body weight gain for group C (12.63^a±0.336) kg/lamb followed by group B (11.16^b±0.665) and Group A (5.80^c±0.100) respectively. Reduction in the faecal egg count was observed in Group C (770^a.0±34.64) as compared to group B (131.67^b±10.40) and A (115.00^c±6.100).whereas the immunity status of group C in which the amount of total protein in blood plasma was high (2.30^a±34.64) as compared to group B (0.96^b±10.40) and C (0.86^b±6.100) respectively. It was concluded from the study that group C showed higher body weight gain, improved immunity and lowest faecal egg count in comparison with the other two groups.

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