Main Article Content
Levels Of Iron And Copper In Ewes Milk As Influenced By Stages Of Lactation
Abstract
The population of sheep and goats in Nigeria serves as a potential source of milk for the growing population. Potentials of goats and sheep have long been recognized (Ademosun, 1987). If ewe’s milk is about to occupy
such an important position in the dairy market, it then becomes imperative to establish it’s nutritional status, including mineral compositions at every sage of lactation. Nine newly Lambed West African Dwarf Sheep, 19 ± 1 month old, weighing 20 ± 2 kg, were divided into 9 replicates to study their responses to different stages of lactation in a completely randomized Design. Aliquots of total colostrums and milk collected daily and weekly respectively for each animal were reserved, labeled and frozen for determination of levels of Fe and Cu. The result showed that levels of Fe and Cu are constant in all samples of colostrums but higher than the levels in milk, which decline with advancing stages of lactation. The knowledge of levels of Fe and Cu in eve’s milk is essential for the handling of pre-weaned lambs ad the
handling of the milk for human nutrition. Original/Value: Fe and Cu are the central players in haematopoiesis.
such an important position in the dairy market, it then becomes imperative to establish it’s nutritional status, including mineral compositions at every sage of lactation. Nine newly Lambed West African Dwarf Sheep, 19 ± 1 month old, weighing 20 ± 2 kg, were divided into 9 replicates to study their responses to different stages of lactation in a completely randomized Design. Aliquots of total colostrums and milk collected daily and weekly respectively for each animal were reserved, labeled and frozen for determination of levels of Fe and Cu. The result showed that levels of Fe and Cu are constant in all samples of colostrums but higher than the levels in milk, which decline with advancing stages of lactation. The knowledge of levels of Fe and Cu in eve’s milk is essential for the handling of pre-weaned lambs ad the
handling of the milk for human nutrition. Original/Value: Fe and Cu are the central players in haematopoiesis.
