Abstract
The experiment was conducted to observe the effect of milk replacer on the growth and body conformation of Kachhi lambs at Livestock Experimental Station, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. 12 lambs were randomly allocated into two groups; group A (fed milk replacer) and group B (fed with Ewe milk) @ 10% of their live body weight, for a period of 60 days. Average final body weight and weight gain of group A and group B was 9.4kg, 5.8kg and 10.5kg, 6.8kg, respectively. There was statistically significant (P<0.05) difference between the body weight of groups. Like wise average final body length (cm) and increase in length of group A was (42.9, 10.9) and group B (44.9, 13.0), the body length of group B was significantly higher (P<0.05) than group A. Similarly average final body girth (cm) and increase in body girth of group A and group B was 48.8, 13 and 51.5, 15, respectively, there was significant (P<0.05) difference between the groups. In respect of average final body height (cm) and increase in body height of lambs of group B (49.4, 15.4) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than group A (47.6, 13.3), respectively. It was therefore, concluded that whole milk resulted in better growth of lambs as compared to lambs fed with milk replacer. The generated income of group A was Rs. 16500 and group B was Rs. 17400, with a net profit of group A and group B as Rs. 1175 and Rs. 128, respectively. Net profit/lamb was Rs. 196 and Rs. 22 for group A and for group B, respectively. These figures showed that the lambs of group A, fed milk replacer had remarkably higher net profit as compared to group B, fed Ewe milk/whole milk.