Variation in the Mineral Components of Ewes and Does’ Colostrum

A total of 12 lactating animals of equal number (6 Ewes) and (6Does) were used for this study. This present study advanced on the difference between the mineral components of Ewes and Does’ colostrum. The animals used for this present study were selected from Chaha and Livestock Investigation Department (LID) of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State,Nigeria. 6 mls samples of colostrum was obtained from each lactating dam (Ewes and Does) from the teat of their udder by gentle stripping to avoid injury into fresh clean sample collection bottles (Vacutainer tubes) following the standard procedure. The ash contents of the colostrum samples of Ewes and Does were determined following the standard procedure of Association of official analytical chemistry (AOAC). The mineral composition such as calcium (Ca) was measured in the ash using atomic absorption, Unicam 929. Phosphorous (P) was determined colorimetrically in the ash following the procedure of AOAC. The results of this present findings of the calcium, phosphorus and ash contents in the colostrum of Ewes were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the Does investigated. Based on the species specification, the lambs have higher consumption of minerals in the Ewes’ colostrum than the kids. However, based on the results of this findings, it would be recommended that the variations in the mineral levels of colostrum of the species investigated would provide the bases for identification of species that are rich in mineral constituents in their colostrum for consumption by the young (lambs and kids).