Study on effect of poultry-litter-based-silage on serum chemistry of fattening lambs

Thirty lambs of approximately equal age were divided into three groups. Group A (control) was given farm ration, Group B was given (Poultry-litter-based-silage) and group C was given simple silage and concentrate for a period of six weeks. Liver function tests and other biochemical parameters were determined. At 3 and 6 weeks post-treatment serum alanine transaminase, glucose, urea and calcium content did not differ significantly between the control lambs and lambs fed poultry-litter-based silage or simple silage and concentrate. At three weeks post-treatment serum total bilirubin, serum aspartate transaminase and cholesterol did not differ from the control but these increased significantly in lambs fed poultry-litter-based-silage at six weeks post-treatment. Serum total proteins, serum globulins and uric acid decreased significantly in experimental lambs as compared to the control lambs at three weeks post-treatment but differed non significantly from the control at six weeks post-treatment. Serum albumin concentration did not differ significantly between the control lambs and lambs fed poultry-litter-based silage at three weeks post-treatment but these decreased significantly at six weeks post-treatment. The changes in serum biochemistry were not associated with any clinical signs. The study shows that poultry-litter-based silage can be used as partial nitrogen source for fattening of sheep without any ill effects.