The effect of adding zinc and copper to diet of late-pregnant ewes on blood and milk minerals profile, lambs growth performance and some blood parameters

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc and copper adding to diet of late-pregnant Mehraban breed ewes, on blood and milk minerals profile, lambs growth performance and some blood parameters. Seventeen ewes with 3-4 years old, 45 days before delivery were divided into 3 groups. Treatments includes: treat1) basal diet without supplement (containing 18.98 ppm Zn and 7.51 ppm Cu); 2) basal diet+30 ppm Zn as zinc sulfate, and 3) basal diet+30 ppm zinc as zinc sulfate and 8 ppm Cu as copper sulfate.Lambs were weighed at birth and at 10, 20 and 30 days of age. Lambs were raised with their dams during the experimental period. Blood samples of ewes were collected at -45, 0 and +30 days of delivery and lambs at 10 and 20 days of age. Milk sample was collected at 0, 15, 30 days after delivery. Dietary supplementation of zinc and copper significantly increased plasma (ewes and lambs) and milk zinc and copper concentrations (P<0.05), however, milkiron and also serum Calcium and Phosphorus concentrations were not affected (P>0.05). In treat-2 and 3, lambs body weight, daily gain, red blood cells count, hemoglobin concentration, plasma T3, zinc and ALP concentrations were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The concentrations of glucose, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides, cholesterol were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). The results showed that adding 30 ppm zinc to pregnant ewes' diet result in increase plasma and milk zinc concentrations and finally lambs growth performance.