Studies on haemoglobin polymorphism of two breeds of Iranian sheep and its relationship to concentrations of iron, copper, haemoglobin, haematocrit and RBC number

Source of copper may have regressive effects on serum cholesterol and urea nitrogen among male fattening lambs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary copper (Cu) on mineral profile, hematological parameters, and lipid metabolism in lambs. Eighteen Zandi male lambs (approximately 3 months of age; 17.53±1.6 kg of body weight) were housed in individual pens and were assigned randomly to one of three treatments. Treatments consisted of (1) control (no supplemental Cu), (2) 10 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) from copper sulfate (CuS), and (3) 10 mg Cu/kg DM from Cu proteinate (CuP). The Cu concentration was 8.2 mg/kg DM in the basal diet. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein at the beginning of the study (enrollment, before feeding Cu supplement) and at days 25, 50, and 70 of experiment. The amounts of total serum glucose, urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and lipids and hematological parameters were measured. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved (P<0.05) with Cu supplementation and were better for the lambs fed diet supplemented with CuP. The concentrations of serum Ca, P, and Zn were not affected by source of Cu in the diet. However, Fe concentration was lower (P<0.01) in the Cu-supplemented groups. Experimental treatment had no significant effects on the hematological parameters. The serum glucose concentration was not affected by treatments. However, the urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly affected (P<0.05) by added Cu and was lower for CuP group as compared to the lambs in the CuS and control groups. Addition of Cu had no influence (P>0.05) on the serum triglyceride concentration, but lambs fed with CuP supplement had lower (P<0.05) serum cholesterol than the CuS and control animals. These results indicated that CuP supplemented at 10 mg/kg DM improved gain and enhanced the efficiency of nitrogen in male lambs.