Authors : J.E.N. Olatunji , C.F.I. Onwuka , D. Eruvbetine , O.O. Oduguwa and A.B.J. Aina
Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of lasalocid on the performance of WAD sheep with a view to monitoring the feed intake, growth response, influence on digestion and optimum level of lasalocid inclusion in the diets of WAD sheep. Lasalocid was added to diets at four different levels of 0.00%, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03% to represent the four treatments of the experiment. Experimental sheep weighing 13.48�0.95 kg were allowed to feed on the experimental diets for a period of 28 days before shifting to the next experimental diet in a cross over experimental design with each treatment replicated 8 times. Some blood parameters (Biochemical) total serum protein and serum urea and (Haemotological), packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration as well as cost efficiency of including lasalocid in the feed were also monitored. Inclusion of lasalocid was found to enhance (p<0.05) weight gains, protein status of the experimental sheep as well as the cost efficiency in the experiment. 0.03% lasalocid inclusion level was the best and is therefore recommended in diets for WAD sheep.
J.E.N. Olatunji , C.F.I. Onwuka , D. Eruvbetine , O.O. Oduguwa and A.B.J. Aina , 2006. Performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep Fed Diets Containing Lasalocid. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 810-813.