Effect of Zinc Yeast Supplementation on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status and Immune Status of Sahiwal Calves

Abstract

The aim of this study to investigate the effect of zinc yeast supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant status and immune status of Sahiwal calves. For this eighteen Sahiwal calves selected from the LRC at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology Modipuram, Meerut and divided into three groups, 6 calves in each group. 6 Sahiwal calves were kept as control group and 6 Sahiwal calves were supplemented with zinc yeast@ 40 mg/kg DMI in T1 and 6 Sahiwal calves were supplemented with zinc yeast@ 60 mg/kg DMI in T2 for 90 days. Blood samples were fortnightly collected for 90 days. Body weight, Body weight gain, Feed consumption, Feed conversion ratio, White blood cell, Lymphocyte, Total immunoglobulin, Catalase, SOD, TBARS and Total antioxidant activity were estimated. The overall average value of body weight was 133.13±2.09, 135.11±2.53 and 136.12±2.68 kg in control, T1 and T2, respectively. Body weight was did not differ significant among the groups. The overall average value of BWG was 4.54±0.25, 5.14±0.25 and 5.38±0.23 kg in control, T1 and T2 group, respectively. Body weight gain of treatment groups was significantly higher (P<0.05) than control but Body weight gain of T1 and T2 did not differ significantly. Overall average value of feed consumption did not differ significantly among groups control (39.24±0.62 kg), T1 (39.73±0.76 kg) and T2 (39.98±0.81 kg). Overall average value of FCR was 8.79±0.47, 7.89±0.48 and 7.55±0.36 in control, T1 and T2 group, respectively. Overall average value of FCR was significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatments than control but did not differ significantly between T1 and T2 group. FCR on all fortnights of study period was significantly lower in treatments as compared to control group. The value of WBC did not differ significantly among groups. The overall average value of lymphocyte concentration was significantly higher in treatments as compare to control group. Overall average value of total immunoglobulin was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 as compared to all other groups of Sahiwal calves. The Overall average value of catalase was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 as compared to other groups of Sahiwal calves. Data of overall SOD has shown a significant (P<0.05) difference among the groups. The overall average value of TBARS was significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatments than control. Overall average value of total antioxidant activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 group as compared to other two groups of Sahiwal calves. The study was concluded that zinc yeast supplementation improved the body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, WBC, lymphocyte, total immunoglobulin, catalase, SOD, TBARS and total antioxidant activity.