Authors:Aina A. B. J., Atuahene C. C., Attoh-Kotoku V., Mensah J. J.
Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science, Vol. 5No. 2, 2010
Abstract
An 11-week nutritional study was conducted at the Small Ruminant Unit of the Department of
Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-
Ghana to investigate the effect of copper salts utilisation on the growth performance of West
African Dwarf sheep (WAD). Twelve growing WAD sheep of mixed sex (three animals per
group; 2 males to I female) weighing between I2.Ikg to I2.7kg were selected, balanced for
body weight and randomly allocated to four dietary treatments: i.e. T1[CuSO4], T2[Cu proteinate],
T3[CuNO], T4[No Cu salt]. The diet composition was made up of wheat bran,palm kernel cake and copper salt mixed together. Each animal was supplied 500-700g feed/day between 8.00 and 9.001z daily while 21itres of water was offered per animal per day. TfIj body weight of each animal was taken prior to the commencement of the experiment and every 28 days after 14-16 II withdrawal of feed. Feed intake and water consumption were alsa noted. Results indicated that the inclusion of Cu salt in the diet induced better performance ill those animals compared to the control group ill terms of average daily gain.feed intake, water consumption, feed conversion ratio and water to gain ratio.