Influence of Copper and Silymarin Supplementation on Growth, Antioxidants and Blood Metabolites Status of Muzaffarnagri Sheep

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the Influence of copper and silymarin supplementation on growth, antioxidant and blood metabolites status of Muzaffarnagari sheep. Twenty-four Muzzafarnagari sheep (10-15-month-old) were selected from Livestock Research Center 2, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) India, for period of 90 days. Experimental sheep were divided into four groups (n = 6) on body weight (BW) and age basis. Group 1st was acted as a control and fed on basal diet without any silymarin and copper supplementation. Group 2nd was supplemented with silymarin @ 300mg/kg DM/sheep/day (T1). Group 3rd was supplemented with copper @ 15mg/kg DM/sheep/day (T2) Group 4th was supplemented with combination of silymarin and copper supplementation @ 300 mg/kg DM/sheep/day+15mg/kg DM/sheep/day (T3) for 90 days of experimental period. The BW and feed consumption (FC) was measured fortnightly intervals and body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were calculated from the BW and FC. Blood samples were collected fortnightly during study period and the plasma samples were analyzed for blood metabolites. BW on different fortnights of the study period also was not showed a significant difference among the groups. The BWG and FCE was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treatment as compared to control whereas FCR was reported significantly lowered (P<0.05) in T3 as compared to control, T1 and T2. However, TAA, SOD, catalase, T3 and T4 hormone were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 group in comparison to control, T1 and T2 groups. Furthermore, glucose, NEFA, total Protein, albumin and globulin and creatinine was observed statistically similar among the groups. Whereas, plasma urea nitrogen, ALT, ALP, AST, and TBARS levels was significantly (P<0.05) declined in T3 group against as control, T1 and T2 groups. The present study concluded that the dietary supplementation improved growth performance, antioxidant status and liver function of growing Muzzafarnagari sheep.