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The animal protein demand and the ease of creating an activity make the sheep in evidence, and improve animal performance increasing need. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic zinc supplementation on the performance of Texel lambs. Were randomly selected, 46 lambs Texel, eight months old, weighing on average 41 kg live weight . The animals were divided into two experimental groups (23 animals/ group): treated group (GZn) supplemented with mineral mixture and addition of organic Zn and control group (Gc) supplemented only with mineral mixture. The groups were in two paddocks of four ha of Brachiaria brizantha, separated, and were rotated monthly, the Gc received 500g of mineral mixture in sheep pen in the GZn addition to receiving 500g of mineral mixture was supplemented with 0.5g/ animal/day organic Zn by the oral route during the experimental period of 180 days. The consumption of the mineral mixture was 22 g/ animal/ day in both groups, being within the 24 Colloquium Agrariae, v. 11, n.1, Jan-Jun. 2015, p.23-32. DOI: 10.5747/ca.2015.v11.n1.a115 expected consumption from 10 to 28 g/ animal/ day. The average weight gain during the evaluation period was higher in animals supplemented with organic Zn, 38.3 g/ day in GZn and 8.6 g/ day in Gc, the difference being statistically significant (p ≤ 0,05). The effect of supplementation with organic zinc in Texel lambs performance was positive, with an increase in average daily weight gain in the grazing animals. |
